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When to plant hyacinths in Ottawa: 2 October – 10 November

In Ottawa, hyacinth: plant from 2 October to about 10 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Artistic Landscape Designs (garden centre, 7 km) and Lindsay Landscape (garden centre, 9 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 Ottawa: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in November–March; the coldest, January, averages -12.7 °C.

Planting2 October – 10 November
First autumn frost1 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -12.7 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring7 April
Daylight11:41 on 2 October
Daylight at the winter solstice8:43

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

Hyacinth in Ottawa: 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 Ottawa the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 28 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 Ottawa, Montpelier is 15 days earlier and Rochester 11 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Montreal166 km2 October – 13 Novembersame day
Burlington222 km4 October – 23 November2 days later
Trois-Rivières265 km29 September – 8 November3 days earlier
Syracuse (United States)266 km7 October – 28 November5 days later
Montpelier279 km17 September – 11 November15 days earlier
Rochester295 km13 October – 14 December11 days later

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Ottawa

Planting stock goes into the ground from 2 October to about 10 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Ottawa OpenStreetMap lists 11 garden centres, 6 markets and 6 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant hyacinths in Ottawa?

In Ottawa, hyacinth: plant from 2 October to about 10 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.

When is the last spring frost in Ottawa?

Last spring frost around 30 April, first autumn frost around 1 November.

Other crops in Ottawa, with their dates