Planting hyacinths in open ground, caring for flowers, growing in pots

Every gardener knows a beautiful, pleasantly smelling plant with erect candle-shaped inflorescences and flat green fleshy foliage. This is a hyacinth. It is very aesthetic, sophisticated, truly spring-like. The panicles of the inflorescences can be painted in bright or pastel shades of white, greenish, pink, purple, lilac and even red. This is one of the earliest flowering flowers, which can be grown both in the open ground and at home. Already at the end of winter, we often see these plants in supermarkets and flower shops. What is hyacinth, what cultivation and care features are associated with growing hyacinth - read in our material.

Hyacinth - brief description

Hyacinthus hyacinths are bulbous plants up to 40 cm high. Among the long narrow leaves grows a magnificent inflorescence consisting of a group of bell-shaped flowers with a wonderful, almost stunning aroma.

This is interesting! The name comes from the hero Hyacinth from Greek mythology. Hyakinthos was the son of the Spartan king Amyklas. The beauty of the young man attracted attention, but his beautiful appearance did not save him from fate. The young man died from a blow to the head with a disk. In the place where the blood mixed with the earth, a wonderful flower grew. When the flower bloomed, Apollo named the plant after the young man.

In our climate, hyacinths grown in open ground bloom from April to May; in warmer areas, the flowering period begins in February. One hyacinth blooms for 2-3 weeks.

Attention! The number of hyacinth flowers collected in an inflorescence depends on the size of the bulb. Therefore, when purchasing, they try to choose the largest bulbs. Healthy, large specimens make it possible to obtain up to 60 flowers in an inflorescence.

Hyacinth bulbs are quite large and covered with scales. Depending on the variety, they can be creamy, red, or purple.

Description

Hyacinth is a spring, early-blooming flower. The birthplace of the culture is Western Asia, North Africa, Europe. The largest number of species and varieties of hyacinth were bred by Dutch botanists.

The name of the flower appears in ancient Greek myth.

The son of the king of Sparta was named Hyacinth. Together with the god Apollo, they competed in discus throwing. One day, Apollo threw the disk, and Hyacinth rushed after him to return the disk to his friend. At that same moment, the god Zephyr, jealous of the prince, changed the flight path of the disk and injured the young man’s head. The young man died, and Apollo created a delightful flower from drops of his blood - hyacinth.

The strong bulb consists of lower leaves. By the time flowering ends, the stem and leaves dry out, but a bud forms in the corner of the top leaf, which slowly grows and forms into a young bulb.

In addition to this young bulb, baby bulbs form in the corners of the lower leaves; flower growers separate them and grow new bushes.

Flowers - double or simple - form cone-like clusters at the top. Bright perianth - funnel-bell. Inflorescences of different shades: scarlet, inky lilac, lemon, strawberry, cornflower blue. The fruit consists of three nests, each of them contains a pair of seeds covered with a peel.

Hyacinths evoke tender feelings and at the same time look very impressive. Even if you just look at hyacinths, your mood improves, stress and irritability are relieved, in a word, your soul rejoices.

Types and varieties of hyacinths

The cultivars belong to 3 different species of bulbous plants in the Asparagus family. The distribution area extends from the Middle East to northeastern Iran.

1. Hyacinth Litvinowii (Hyacinthus litwinowii) is found in Turkmenistan, in northern Iran. Grows up to 20-25 cm. The leaves are lanceolate, rather wide. The flowers are small and blue. Blooms in mid or late April.

2. Transcaspian dwarf hyacinth (Hyacinthus transcaspicus). The plant is native to the mountainous region between Turkmenistan and western Iran. The perennial reaches a height of 15-20 cm. The leaves spread along the ground and are quite thick. The flowers of the species are elongated and pale blue in color. There are few flowers in the inflorescence - up to 10 pieces. Above the green fleshy leaves grow light blue or dark blue flowers, collected in a loose bunch (4-10 pieces).

3. Eastern Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) - only this species grows well in our Central European climate. The place of origin is considered to be the Mediterranean region. Currently grown in Europe, USA, Russia, and other parts of the world.

Oriental hyacinth includes more than 100 different varieties. Small six-rayed hyacinth flowers, the number of which is up to 40, have different colors:

• white;
• light blue;
• soft pink;
• raspberry;
• yellow;
• peach;
• orange;
• salmon;
• bright red;
• purple.

Typically one bulb produces one inflorescence. Some varieties produce several flower shoots. There are varieties with individual flowers. All hyacinths have beautiful flowers and a unique aroma. Here are a few well-known varieties, broken down by color:

Litvinova (hyacinthic, Hyacinthella Litvinova)

The type of wild hyacinth was first described by the Russian florist, geographer, Dmitry Ivanovich Litvinov (1845-1929).

The flowers grow in mountainous Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Libya, Syria, Lebanon. In 1975 it was listed in the Red Book of the USSR , in 1999 - in the Red Book of Turkmenistan .

Plant height up to 25 cm. The spaced wide leaves are green-bluish. Produces 2-3 peduncles.

The flowers are odorless, with protruding stamens of various shades of blue, pink, lilac, and white . Hyacinth flower petals are cut and bent inward.

Litvinova look like in these photos:

Growing and caring for hyacinths in open ground

Colorful and fragrant, hyacinths are fortunately easy to grow. Plants are not too picky about soil conditions.

• Landing place. Like all spring flowers, hyacinths love sunny positions. Choose a place that is warm, sunny, possibly slightly shaded, and always protected from the winds. In the sun, the flowers bloom better, the inflorescences are compact and dense, in the shade the plant stretches out, the inflorescences become thinner.
• Soils . Soil care is easy. It is necessary to prepare fertile substrates, not acidic, not too wet. It is ideal to add compost soil under the bulbs. Since compost contains a sufficient amount of nutrients, the next feeding of the plant with organic fertilizers can be skipped.
• Fertilizer . In addition to adding compost, other fertilizers are applied during planting. In the spring, after the start of growth, nitrogen is given - ammonium nitrate. Subsequently, multicomponent fertilizers are used.
• Winter care . The plants are resistant to frost; no special measures are required in winter. Bulbs of some sensitive varieties need to be covered with a layer of straw, branches or special non-woven material after autumn planting.
• Watering. The plant tolerates spring showers without damage. When the first shoot tips appear, the soil should be moist. However, excess water can be harmful. In summer, flowers are watered less; in summer, the plant prefers dry soil.
• Trimming. Inflorescences bloom from March to April. When the inflorescences fade in May, they need to be cut off so that they do not produce seeds, this takes a lot of resources from the plant (plastic substances).

Planting and propagation of hyacinths in autumn

Autumn is the optimal time to plant hyacinths. The plant reproduces by bulbs. It is important to observe planting dates correctly. The best months to plant hyacinth bulbs are October. The ground is still quite warm and the bulbs have plenty of time to settle into their new location. The end of November is the latest date.

The basic principle of planting hyacinths is that they should not be planted after:

• cucumbers;
• tomatoes;
• strawberries

Otherwise, mold spores and pathogenic fungi that are dangerous for the bulbs of these flowers remain in the ground.

Gardeners often plant plants in lightly shaded areas so they bloom longer.

Before planting hyacinths in the fall, you need to dig up the soil with compost. As a natural fertilizer, it will improve the quality of the soil and its properties. Compost optimizes the flowering phase of the bulbous plant. Additional addition of organic matter can negatively affect the growth of hyacinths.

Only healthy, firm and unsprouted bulbs should be planted. A coating of mold, wrinkled, dry husks, discoloration, and the smell of rot are a signal that a large flower will not grow from the bulb. When planting, you must be careful not to damage the planting material. It is advisable to treat the bulbs with a fungicide such as Funaben before planting.

It is important at what depth to plant hyacinths. The planting depth should be equal to twice the diameter of the bulb. Don't plant the bulbs too close together - about 10cm apart is ideal.

Depending on the size of the bulbs, the planting depth can be 10-20 cm, and the distance between the bulbs can be 15-25 cm.

Remember to plant the hyacinth bulbs bottom down and tail up.

Timely planting will provide better conditions for rooting and development. If there was no time to plant bulbs in the fall, it is possible to plant hyacinths in the spring. But only when the likelihood of frost has passed.

Do I need to dig up the bulbs?

Hyacinths can be grown in several ways:

1. Dig up the bulbs every year to give them a rest;
2. Do not dig it out of the ground - this is a more convenient method, although in subsequent years the flowers will be smaller and then disappear completely.

To maintain flowering plants, bulbs need to be dug up. Gardeners recommend annually digging up the bulbs and replanting them in a new location.

You can choose a compromise version and dig up the bulbs every few years to “rest”.

Story

Hyacinth is native to Asia . It first appeared during the Roman Empire. In the 16th century, sailors brought the seeds of this representative of the flora to their homeland. The plant has taken root well in the humid and mild climate of Holland. It was loved by rich merchants for its extraordinary fragrant aroma. The plant immediately gained wide popularity. In the 17th century, new subspecies of the plant appeared. And by the 18th century, Hyacinth had more than 2,000 different varieties.

All plants had magnificent fragrant flowers that differed in color. A wonderful color scheme was developed. There were both ordinary flowers and plants with double leaves. Some of them even had several main peduncles. At the moment, the main suppliers of seeds and other planting material are Holland and England.

Features of planting and care in pots

Hyacinths grow equally well in garden beds and in home pots. You can enjoy the wonderful scent and colors of the flowers on your terrace or even at home. The planting period for pots is the same as in the garden - October-November. The substrate must be fertile, then fertilizing is not needed. Composted soil mixed with sand is used successfully. A drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the pots to drain excess water.

The bulbs are planted in a pot or container so that they do not touch each other. The planting depth is equal to twice the diameter of the bulb. To ensure that the soil adheres well to the bulbs, it is lightly watered. The pots are then placed in a cool, dark room for 10 weeks. During this period, the plants are watered very moderately.

Caring for young plants. When shoots begin to emerge from the ground, the flowers must be exposed to light. The pots are placed on the windowsills, saturating the plants with the warmth of the sun's rays through the glass. The larger the plant gets, the more water it needs. That is, the substrate should be constantly damp, but not wet. To retain moisture, moss is placed on the ground, which decorates the pot in an interesting way. The heavier inflorescences are tied to supports.

Cutting

Inflorescences in which the lower flowers have begun to bloom are suitable for cutting. It is better to cut hyacinths in the morning or evening - flowers cut during the day quickly wither. It is not necessary to use a knife or scissors: the succulent flower stalks can be easily broken off at the base.

Peduncles placed in water secrete mucus - therefore, 3 hours after cutting, the water is changed, and only after that hyacinths can be used in bouquets. In the future, the water should be changed 2-3 times a day: in this case, the flowers can last up to 2 weeks.

How to properly care for winter?

In May, when the colorful inflorescences lose their charm, they are cut off. The green leaves are left until they turn completely yellow and wilt. Then they are removed. When the hyacinth has bloomed, the bulb collects the necessary materials for wintering and the next season through the leaves.

Hyacinth bulbs can be left in the ground and the soil can be fed with compost in the fall. If the flowers are to be moved to another location in the garden, the bulbs are dug up and stored in a dark, dry place during the summer. In October you can plant them in a new place.

Hyacinth is a frost-resistant plant, but the problem lies in fairly frequent weather changes and snowless periods. Before the arrival of winter, it is advisable to mulch the soil over the planted hyacinth bulbs, which will protect them from freezing (especially necessary for growing unstable varieties).

9.Note

Hyacinths can be kept indoors for several years, but more often they are transplanted into the garden after flowering.

Essential oil is obtained from hyacinth flowers , which has many beneficial properties - it is used, for example, in perfumes and creams, as it can soften and moisturize the skin.

The essential oil also has a tonic effect and has calming properties, which is why it is used in aromatherapy.

Hyacinth bulbs contain poisonous juice , which in turn carries a certain amount of oxalic acid, which can irritate the skin of the hands - use protective gloves when transplanting plants.

If ingested, the plant juice can cause poisoning , the symptoms of which will be diarrhea and vomiting.

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After flowering

In spring, hyacinths become a real decoration. When the spectacular blooms disappear and the unique aroma disappears, it is time to prepare the plants for the next season. The pots are moved to a secluded place and watered moderately until the above-ground parts disappear naturally. The bulbs should then be dug up, dried and stored in paper bags in a dry, dark place during the summer. In September-October you can plant them again and wait for the next miracle of flowering.

In May, garden hyacinths have their inflorescences cut off, as described above.

8.Purpose

Growing different varieties of hyacinth in one container always gives impressive results.

An excellent forcing plant , from planting to flowering it takes on average about 2.5 months, therefore you can get a flowering plant for any holiday.

Hyacinth petals are added to lotion and are believed to help get rid of wrinkles.

Plant flowers are also an excellent natural flavoring agent for indoor use.

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Hyacinth diseases

Leaves, inflorescences and bulbs are subject to various diseases:

• fungal;
• bacterial;
• viral.

The most common diseases:

• blossom end rot - caused by soil pathogens;
• gray mold;
• wet rot;
• bulb rot - penicillosis of bulbs;
• hyacinth mosaic.

Plant bulbs are stored in a cool, dry place. Particular attention should be paid to bulbs with small round yellow spots under the husk or light brown spots blending into larger spots. The former probably means infection of the bulb with gray mold, the latter - dry rot. It is better to throw them away because by putting them back in the ground we will infect other hyacinths with both fungal diseases. Bulbs should always be treated with a fungicide before planting.

Hyacinths in landscape design, photos - examples of flower bed design

Hyacinth flowers are among the most popular garden plants. This is due to the richness of the flowers and ease of cultivation. Planted in groups of the same color, these beautiful flowers create impressive colorful displays in flower beds. They also look good in pots and wicker baskets.

Photo. Flower beds and flower beds with hyacinths

When planning a large flower bed, it is worth planting hyacinths in groups - several, a dozen or so bulbs of the same variety. Flowers will create spectacular, colorful islands.

By choosing flowering varieties at the same time, you can achieve the effect of a patterned carpet or scarf.

Hyacinth is a wonderful decoration for any garden, summer cottage, or small flower bed. The plant is easy to grow, planting the bulbs does not involve any special measures, caring for the shoots is simple, regular watering is required, especially during periods of drought. These extremely beautiful plants are probably a favorite in the spring, producing extremely gorgeous blooms that are intensely colored and fragrant. It's no wonder that many people want to grow this charming bulbous plant in the garden or in pots at home.

What to combine with in the flowerbed

Flowers go well with evergreen shrubs. Very often, hyacinths are planted next to dwarf conifers or herbaceous perennials. The flowers will look beautiful against the backdrop of periwinkle and bergenia.

In spring, you can plant the crop under a cherry or plum tree. The simultaneous flowering of these trees and hyacinth can create extraordinary beauty in a private garden. Since the above-ground part dries out at the end of June, try to plant ground cover plants nearby. They will cover empty areas of soil after the hyacinths have faded.