When to plant hyacinths in Charlottetown: 3 October – 20 November

In Charlottetown, hyacinth: plant from 3 October to about 20 November.

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 Charlottetown: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–April; the coldest, February, averages -10.5 °C.

Planting	3 October – 20 November
First autumn frost	2 November
Coldest nights	February, -10.5 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	1 April
Daylight	11:38 on 3 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	8:37

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

Hyacinth in Charlottetown: 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 Charlottetown the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 31 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 Charlottetown, Fredericton is 5 days earlier and Halifax 7 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Moncton	130 km	5 October – 17 November	2 days later
Halifax	179 km	10 October – 1 December	7 days later
Fredericton	275 km	28 September – 11 November	5 days earlier
Augusta	562 km	4 October – 20 November	1 day later
Quebec City	621 km	28 September – 4 November	5 days earlier
Portland, Maine	629 km	5 October – 26 November	2 days later

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Charlottetown

Planting stock goes into the ground from 3 October to about 20 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Charlottetown OpenStreetMap lists 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026).

Freshest Fruits and Vegetables — farm shop
2 km

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