When to plant hyacinths in Riga: 14 October – 8 December

In Riga, hyacinth: plant from 14 October to about 8 December. For planting stock, the places nearby include Cerise (garden centre, 3 km) and Viss dārzam (garden centre, 3 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 Riga: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -3.6 °C.

Planting	14 October – 8 December
First autumn frost	13 November
Coldest nights	January, -3.6 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	12 February
Daylight	10:32 on 14 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	6:44

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

Hyacinth in Riga: 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 Riga the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 30 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 Riga, Pskov is 25 days earlier and Kaliningrad 1 day later.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Vilnius	262 km	20 September – 26 November	24 days earlier
Pskov	271 km	19 September – 17 November	25 days earlier
Tallinn	279 km	2 October – 26 November	12 days earlier
Kaliningrad	335 km	15 October – 30 December	1 day later
Maladzyechna	339 km	19 September – 22 November	25 days earlier
Lida	350 km	30 September – 27 November	14 days earlier

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Riga

Planting stock goes into the ground from 14 October to about 8 December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Riga OpenStreetMap lists 4 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 2 plant nurseries, 29 markets and 2 farm shops (collected 7 October 2026).

Viss dārzam — garden centre
Vienības gatve 50, LV-1004 Rīga · Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00; Sat 09:00–17:00 · 3 km · darzs-veikals.business.site
Cerise — garden centre
Jāņa Šteinhauera iela 2A, LV-1083 Rīga · Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00 · 3 km
Dreiliņu stādi — garden centre
Afeldu iela 4, LV-1021 Rīga · 8 km · dreilinustadi.lv
Milk Pavilion — market
Centrāltirgus iela 3 k-1, LV-1050 Rīga · Mon–Sat 07:30–18:00; Sun 07:30–17:00 · 1 km
Vegetable Pavilion — market
Centrāltirgus iela 3 k-3, LV-1050 Rīga · 08:00–18:00 · 1 km
Gastronomical Pavilion — market
Centrāltirgus iela 3 k-2, LV-1050 Rīga · Mon–Sat 07:30–18:00; Sun 07:30–17:00 · 1 km
Latgale — market
Firsa Sadovņikova iela 9A, LV-1003 Rīga · Mon–Sun 08:00–16:00 · 1 km
Dammes tirgus — market
Dammes iela 36A, LV-1069 Rīga · Mon–Sun 08:00–19:00 · 6 km

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