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When to plant hyacinths in Boston: 14 October – 29 December

In Boston, hyacinth: plant from 14 October to about 29 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Lexington Community Farm (farm shop, 13 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 date is about two weeks before the average daily temperature here falls below 0 °C (ten years of weather): an estimate, not the day the ground freezes, and a cold spell can freeze it earlier. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS, how the ground freezes (NRC Canada, CBD-26).

Hyacinth in Boston: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -3.9 °C.

Planting14 October – 29 December
First autumn frost13 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -3.9 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in springalready in the first week of January
Daylight11:10 on 14 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:04

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

Hyacinth in Boston: 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 Boston the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 24 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

All the nearest cities on our list plant hyacinth earlier than Boston; the closest date is in New Haven, 1 day earlier.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Providence67 km9 October – 30 December5 days earlier
Manchester (United States)77 km3 October – 27 November11 days earlier
Concord102 km1 October – 25 November13 days earlier
Portland, Maine159 km5 October – 26 November9 days earlier
New Haven193 km13 October – end of December1 day earlier
Albany224 km7 October – 30 November7 days earlier

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Boston

Planting stock goes into the ground from 14 October to about 29 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Boston OpenStreetMap lists 12 garden centres, 1 plant nursery, 13 markets and 2 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant hyacinths in Boston?

In Boston, hyacinth: plant from 14 October to about 29 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 Boston?

Last spring frost around 9 April, first autumn frost around 13 November.

Other crops in Boston, with their dates