Forcing Hyacinths for Valentine's Day and Easter                                                                                                         

For Valentine's Day - plant hyacinths in mid-October, cool at 48°F until January 10-15.                                                                           

For Easter - after planting keep bulbs at 55°F until the roots grow out of the bottom of the pot. When the roots show, drop the temperature to 41°F. Maintain this temperature until early January at which time depending on the sprout development, the temperature needs to be lowered to 34°F and held until brought into the greenhouse. If no cooler facility is available the bulbs can be planted outside under a layer of 6" sand and straw cover.This method is only recommended in the Northern states.

     

Greenhouse Forcing:                                                             

For Christmas - use "Prepared Hyacinths", keep at 40°F, bring into the greenhouse December 1

For Valentine -   3-4 weeks at 65-70°F, bring into the greenhouse January 10-15

For Easter - 4 weeks at 65-70°F      

                                                                                                                                                               

Store after arrival:                                 

Unpack bulbs and ventilate if not planted immediately. Store at 58-65°F. Do not store with fresh fruit, vegetables or other ethylene producing products.

                                                                                                                                                               

Cooling:                                                                                                  

Cooling is the most important step. The main rule for hyacinths is 12-14 weeks of temperature at or below 48°F.   

                                                                                                   

Planting:                                                                                                                                                 

Use well drained, outdoor composted site. Plant bulbs so that soil is 6" above the bulb nose. Use 40 bulbs per square yard - space bulbs about 6" apart. For indoor forcing, plant bulbs at soil level. Hyacinths flower in April with a height of 10". Any commercial soil or soil mix can be used as long as it has good drainage and allows for undisturbed root growth. Soil should have a pH level of 6-7 and have a low soluble salt level. The following soil mixes have shown the best results: Fafard #2, Fafard#3-B, Fafard #4, Metro 350, Metro 360, Metro 500, Fison Sunshine #4.                                                                                                                                                                                

Watering:                                                                                                                                                               

Water every other day. Always make sure that watering is done directly into the pot and not over the crop.                                                                                                                                                                

Fertilizer:                                                                                                                                                               

Fertilize in the greenhouse only, not in the cooler. Use calcium nitrate at a rate of 2 lbs per 100 gallons of water.