Greenly Garden

When to plant hyacinths in Ghent: 25 October – end of December

In Ghent, hyacinth: plant from 25 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Aveve (garden centre, 5 km) and De Korenbloem (garden centre, 11 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 Ghent: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1.6 °C.

Planting25 October – end of December
First autumn frost24 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, 1.6 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in springalready in the first week of January
Daylight10:09 on 25 October
Daylight at the winter solstice7:54

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

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

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

In Ghent 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

Around Ghent, Charleroi is 9 days earlier and Bruges 6 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Bruges39 km31 October – end of December6 days later
Brussels49 km23 October – end of December2 days earlier
Lille66 km22 October – end of December3 days earlier
Charleroi87 km16 October – end of December9 days earlier
Hasselt114 km19 October – end of December6 days earlier
Liège138 km20 October – end of December5 days earlier

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Ghent

Planting stock goes into the ground from 25 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Ghent OpenStreetMap lists 31 garden centres, 2 plant nurseries, 8 markets and 9 farm shops (collected 27 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant hyacinths in Ghent?

In Ghent, hyacinth: plant from 25 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.

When is the last spring frost in Ghent?

Last spring frost around 12 April, first autumn frost around 24 November.

Other crops in Ghent, with their dates