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When to plant hyacinths in Ithaca: 9 October – 4 December

In Ithaca, hyacinth: plant from 9 October to about 4 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Indian Creek Farm (farm shop, 5 km) and Early Bird Greenhouse Sales (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 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 Ithaca: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -6.3 °C.

Planting9 October – 4 December
First autumn frost8 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -6.3 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring1 March
Daylight11:24 on 9 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:04

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

Hyacinth in Ithaca: 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 Ithaca the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 26 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 Ithaca, Toronto is 9 days earlier and Rochester 4 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Syracuse (United States)74 km7 October – 28 November2 days earlier
Rochester121 km13 October – 14 December4 days later
Buffalo201 km11 October – 6 December2 days later
Allentown222 km4 October – 30 December5 days earlier
Albany226 km7 October – 30 November2 days earlier
Toronto270 km30 September – 25 November9 days earlier

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Ithaca

Planting stock goes into the ground from 9 October to about 4 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Ithaca OpenStreetMap lists 3 garden centres, 3 plant nurseries, 6 markets and 3 farm shops (collected 29 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant hyacinths in Ithaca?

In Ithaca, hyacinth: plant from 9 October to about 4 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 Ithaca?

Last spring frost around 28 April, first autumn frost around 8 November.

Other crops in Ithaca, with their dates