When to plant hyacinths in Neuchâtel: 29 October – end of December

In Neuchâtel, hyacinth: plant from 29 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Marché à la ferme (farm shop, 8 km) and Ferme de trois-rods (farm shop, 8 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 Neuchâtel: soil, season and weather

No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 0.5 °C.

Planting	29 October – end of December
First autumn frost	28 November
Coldest nights	January, 0.5 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	10:12 on 29 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	8:31

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

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

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

In Neuchâtel 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

All the nearest cities on our list plant hyacinth earlier than Neuchâtel; the closest date is in Besançon, 10 days earlier.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Fribourg	27 km	7 October – 30 December	22 days earlier
Bern	40 km	4 October – 21 December	25 days earlier
Besançon	75 km	19 October – end of December	10 days earlier
Mulhouse	90 km	18 October – end of December	11 days earlier
Sion	91 km	19 September – 19 November	40 days earlier
Lucerne	105 km	20 September – 29 November	39 days earlier

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Neuchâtel

Planting stock goes into the ground from 29 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Neuchâtel OpenStreetMap lists 4 garden centres, 3 farm-supply shops, 2 plant nurseries, 2 markets and 20 farm shops (collected 27 October 2026).

Au self du Pré d'Esissy — farm shop
07:00–21:00 · 14 km · elevagedupredeissy.ch
Marché à la ferme — farm shop
Mon–Fri 09:00–12:00, 15:00–19:00; Sat 09:00–17:00; Sun 09:00–12:00 · 8 km
Ferme de trois-rods — farm shop
public holidays, Mon–Sun 07:00–20:00 · 8 km
Desaules — garden centre
8 km · desaules-horticulture.ch
Pépinière d'Agnens — plant nursery
11 km · pepiniere-agnens.ch
Forster Baumschule — plant nursery
14 km · forsterbaumschule.ch
Glace de la ferme — farm shop
11 km · glace-ducommun.ch
Garohof — farm shop
13 km · garohof.ch

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