When to plant hyacinths in Bologna: 30 October – end of December

In Bologna, hyacinth: plant from 30 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.

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 Bologna: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 0.4 °C.

Planting	30 October – end of December
First autumn frost	29 November
Coldest nights	January, 0.4 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	10:19 on 30 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	8:50

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

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

Plant hyacinths 10 cm deep, at least 7.5 cm apart (RHS).

In Bologna the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 18 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 Bologna, Pisa is 11 days earlier and San Marino 13 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Modena	37 km	31 October – end of December	1 day later
Florence	80 km	by 28 October	2 days earlier
San Marino	108 km	by 12 November	13 days later
Verona	109 km	28 October – end of December	2 days earlier
Padua	111 km	29 October – end of December	1 day earlier
Pisa	115 km	19 October – end of December	11 days earlier

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Bologna

Planting stock goes into the ground from 30 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Bologna OpenStreetMap lists 9 garden centres, 3 farm-supply shops, 4 plant nurseries, 18 markets and 15 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026).

Borgo Delle Erbe — market
Via Ugo Bassi 23, 40121 Bologna · 1 km · borgomameli.it
Mercato Ritrovato — market
Sept–Jun: Sat 09:00–14:00; Apr–Oct: Wed 17:30–21:30 · 1 km · mercatoritrovato.it
Mercato di Mezzo — market
Mon–Sun 09:00–00:00 · 1 km
Mercato dei fiori — market
Tue · 1 km
Mercato del Novale — market
Sun 09:00–13:00 · 1 km
Mercato Contadino CampiAperti — market
Tue 17:00–21:00 · 2 km
Mercato Contadino Campi Aperti Via Piave — market
Mon 17:00–20:00 · 2 km
Mercato di Piazza Lucio Dalla — market
Thu 17:00 - 21:00 · 2 km

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