Greenly Garden
Get the app
EN

When to plant hyacinths in Berlin: 20 October – end of December

In Berlin, hyacinth: plant from 20 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Annenstraße Karls Erdbeeren Saisonstand (farm shop, 2 km) and Apfelgalerie (farm shop, 5 km); addresses and opening hours are below.

Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

The average daily temperature here stays above 0 °C all winter, and at least three months average 7 °C or less: our rule of thumb for the winter cold spring bulbs need. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS.

Hyacinth in Berlin: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in January, February; the coldest, January, averages -0.7 °C.

Planting20 October – end of December
First autumn frost19 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -0.7 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in springalready in the first week of January
Daylight10:22 on 20 October
Daylight at the winter solstice7:39

The same dates in Berlin hold for Garlic, Tulip, Daffodil and Crocus.

Hyacinth in Berlin: depth, winter cold, pests and pets

Plant hyacinths 10 cm deep, at least 7.5 cm apart (RHS). In the ground hyacinths are fully hardy, but in containers they can be frost tender in cold winters (RHS); here winter nights average below 0 °C, so wrap the pots or move them to a sheltered spot.

In Berlin the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 25 weeks a year (our estimate from ten years of monthly weather). For this bulb Wisconsin Horticulture Extension gives a cold period of 12–15 weeks at about 2–10 °C. The winter here gives that in the ground, so the bulbs need no pre-chilling.

Flowers get smaller in the years after planting: for full spikes, replace the bulbs or add a few new ones each autumn (RHS).

If squirrels are a problem, protect the bulbs with wire mesh (RHS). Hyacinths are toxic to dogs, cats and horses: intense vomiting and diarrhoea (ASPCA).

Sources: RHS, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, ASPCA.

Hyacinth in nearby cities

Around Berlin, Zielona Góra is 6 days earlier and Potsdam 2 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Potsdam27 km22 October – end of December2 days later
Szczecin127 km18 October – end of December2 days earlier
Magdeburg129 km19 October – end of December1 day earlier
Leipzig149 km18 October – end of December2 days earlier
Zielona Góra157 km14 October – end of December6 days earlier
Dresden165 km19 October – end of December1 day earlier

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Berlin

Planting stock goes into the ground from 20 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Berlin OpenStreetMap lists 38 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 7 plant nurseries, 76 markets and 20 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant hyacinths in Berlin?

In Berlin, hyacinth: plant from 20 October to the end of December. Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

When is the last spring frost in Berlin?

Last spring frost around 13 April, first autumn frost around 19 November.

Other crops in Berlin, with their dates