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When to plant hyacinths in Rockford: 28 September – 25 November

In Rockford, hyacinth: plant from 28 September to about 25 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Landscape Connection (garden centre, 7 km) and Walmart Garden Center (garden centre, 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 Rockford: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -8.9 °C.

Planting28 September – 25 November
First autumn frost28 October
Coldest nightsJanuary, -8.9 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring28 February
Daylight11:55 on 28 September
Daylight at the winter solstice9:05

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

Hyacinth in Rockford: 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 Rockford the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 25 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 Rockford, Cedar Rapids is 3 days earlier and Chicago 9 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Madison94 km27 September – 20 November1 day earlier
Chicago125 km7 October – 3 December9 days later
Milwaukee128 km2 October – 25 November4 days later
Davenport149 km30 September – 30 November2 days later
Peoria180 km1 October – 9 December3 days later
Cedar Rapids219 km25 September – 25 November3 days earlier

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Rockford

Planting stock goes into the ground from 28 September to about 25 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Rockford OpenStreetMap lists 10 garden centres (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant hyacinths in Rockford?

In Rockford, hyacinth: plant from 28 September to about 25 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 Rockford?

Last spring frost around 26 April, first autumn frost around 28 October.

Other crops in Rockford, with their dates