Grow hyacinth bulbs to light up the festive season

By Duncan Heather

If you are looking for a unique and beautiful Christmas present which is sure to impress, perhaps you should consider planting a winter bulb. Expert horticulturalist Duncan Heather suggests the fragrant hyacinth which, planted now, will light up the festive season...

As the nights have now drawn in (alarmingly quickly, it seems), my thoughts have turned to Christmas and all that entails in terms of planning and preparation. This week I am undertaking my yearly tradition: planting hyacinth bulbs to ensure that I have beautiful fresh flowers in the winter months ahead.

It’s actually quite late to be planting indoor bulbs, as some varieties will have needed to have been planted in late September and early October to flower. However, my indoor bulb of choice, hyacinth, can still be planted now and will flower - if not for Christmas day - then in the weeks thereafter.

There’s something really special about pots of fresh, fragrant hyacinths in winter; it’s almost like getting a gift from the New Year - a little bit of spring come early. And speaking of gifts, a pot of hyacinths can also make a great Christmas present – especially for someone who has invited you to their home over the festive period. It demonstrates that you have put real thought and care into the present - a real antidote to the last minute ‘petrol station flowers’ that we sometimes have to rely on. Who could ask for more in a present?

But the real beauty of indoor bulbs is that you get so much return for so little effort. It’s possible to get great results even if you don’t possess a single green finger. Follow the instructions below to reap the benefits of fresh flowers...

You will need...

A pot. You might wish to buy an ornamental pot or decorate a plain one with ribbons/tinsel etc. later. Know your audience!
Prepared flower bulbs (they will flower more quickly).
Potting compost or moist bulb fibre.

Instructions

Buy ‘prepared’ hyacinth bulbs (they will flower more quickly).
Partly fill your pot of choice with potting compost or moist bulb fibre.
Place your bulbs in the pot – close but not touching – and cover them, but leave the tops exposed.
Water well.
Put the pot somewhere cool and, ideally, dim – the shed, a darker corner of the greenhouse, a cool cupboard etc.
Keep the plant here, and the earth moist, for 5 weeks. The plants will be ready to come into the light when the green shoots are approximately 5cm high
Bring the pot into a cool, well lit room and it should flower for Christmas or shortly after.

To find out more about Christmas bulbs, go to Bulbs for Christmas on the MyGardenSchool website.

I hope that once you have enjoyed a pot or two of hyacinths this winter, you too will consider making it a new Christmas tradition.

Buy prepared hyacinth bulbs now at Gee-tee.co.uk

Associate Director of MyGardenSchool and Principal of the Oxford College of Garden Design, Duncan Heather is one of Europe's foremost garden designers and an expert on gardening and horticulture. For more from Duncan or to browse a variety of gardening courses visit www.my-garden-school.com.