Greenly Garden
Get the app
EN

When to plant hyacinths in Philadelphia: 12 October – end of December

In Philadelphia, hyacinth: plant from 12 October to the end of December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Walnut Hill Farmstand (farm shop, 4 km) and Urban Tree Harvest Farmstand (farm shop, 5 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 Philadelphia: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–February; the coldest, January, averages -2.5 °C.

Planting12 October – end of December
First autumn frost11 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -2.5 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in springalready in the first week of January
Daylight11:20 on 12 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:20

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

Hyacinth in Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 21 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 Philadelphia, Allentown is 8 days earlier and Dover 15 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Trenton45 km13 October – end of December1 day later
Allentown77 km4 October – 30 December8 days earlier
Atlantic City92 km23 October – end of December11 days later
Dover93 km27 October – end of December15 days later
New York130 km21 October – end of December9 days later
Baltimore144 km23 October – end of December11 days later

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Philadelphia

Planting stock goes into the ground from 12 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Philadelphia OpenStreetMap lists 9 garden centres, 84 markets and 20 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant hyacinths in Philadelphia?

In Philadelphia, hyacinth: plant from 12 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 Philadelphia?

Last spring frost around 3 April, first autumn frost around 11 November.

Other crops in Philadelphia, with their dates