When to plant hyacinths in Erzurum: 16 September – 20 November

In Erzurum, hyacinth: plant from 16 September 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 Erzurum: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in November–March; the coldest, January, averages -10.3 °C.

Planting	16 September – 20 November
First autumn frost	16 October
Coldest nights	January, -10.3 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	12 March
Daylight	12:27 on 16 September
Daylight at the winter solstice	9:20

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

Hyacinth in Erzurum: 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 Erzurum the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 29 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 later than Erzurum; the closest date is in Gyumri, 4 days later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Trabzon	180 km	by 13 November	58 days later
Batumi	195 km	by 13 November	58 days later
Gyumri	239 km	20 September – 23 November	4 days later
Diyarbakır	240 km	26 October – end of December	40 days later
Van	240 km	29 September – 21 November	13 days later
Yerevan	277 km	3 October – 4 December	17 days later

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