When to plant hyacinths in Dover: 27 October – end of December

In Dover, hyacinth: plant from 27 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Lancaster County Farmers Market (farm shop, 1 km) and Tractor Supply Co (farm shop, 7 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 Dover: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in January; the coldest, January, averages -1 °C.

Planting	27 October – end of December
First autumn frost	26 November
Coldest nights	January, -1 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	10:44 on 27 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:25

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

Hyacinth in Dover: 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 Dover the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 19 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 Dover; the closest date is in Baltimore, 4 days earlier.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Annapolis	87 km	20 October – end of December	7 days earlier
Philadelphia	93 km	12 October – end of December	15 days earlier
Baltimore	95 km	23 October – end of December	4 days earlier
Atlantic City	97 km	23 October – end of December	4 days earlier
Washington, D.C.	134 km	17 October – end of December	10 days earlier
Trenton	134 km	13 October – end of December	14 days earlier

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Dover

Planting stock goes into the ground from 27 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Dover OpenStreetMap lists 1 market and 2 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Spence's Bazaar — market
South New Street 550, 19904 · Tue, Fri 07:30–17:00; Sat 07:30–15:00 · 1 km
Lancaster County Farmers Market — farm shop
South New Street 544, 19904 · Tue, Fri 07:00–17:00; Sat 07:00–15:00 · 1 km
Tractor Supply Co — farm shop
South Dupont Highway 4089, 19901 · Mon–Sat 08:00–20:00; Sun 09:00–19:00 · 7 km

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