When to plant hyacinths in Rostock: 18 October – end of December

In Rostock, hyacinth: plant from 18 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.

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 Rostock: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in January, February; the coldest, January, averages -0.2 °C.

Planting	18 October – end of December
First autumn frost	17 November
Coldest nights	January, -0.2 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	already in the first week of January
Daylight	10:25 on 18 October
Daylight at the winter solstice	7:21

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

Hyacinth in Rostock: 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 Rostock the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 27 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

1 of the nearest cities share Rostock's date.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Kiel	130 km	21 October – end of December	3 days later
Hamburg	151 km	20 October – end of December	2 days later
Szczecin	177 km	18 October – end of December	same day
Copenhagen	179 km	20 October – end of December	2 days later
Berlin	195 km	20 October – end of December	2 days later
Potsdam	198 km	22 October – end of December	4 days later

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Rostock

Planting stock goes into the ground from 18 October to the end of December; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Rostock OpenStreetMap lists 5 garden centres, 4 plant nurseries, 13 markets and 8 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Wochenmarkt Ulmenmarkt — market
Mon, Tue 08:00–16:00; Sat 08:00–12:00 · 1 km · rostocker-wochenmaerkte.de
Wochenmarkt Doberaner Platz — market
Mon, Thu 08:00–18:00; Tue 12:00–18:00; Wed, Fri–Sun, public holidays closed · 2 km · rostocker-wochenmaerkte.de
Wochenmarkt Gehlsdorf — market
Thu 13:00–18:00 · 2 km · rostocker-wochenmaerkte.de
Wochenmarkt Reutershagen — market
Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00; Sat 08:00–12:00 · 2 km · rostocker-wochenmaerkte.de
Wochenmarkt Neuer Markt — market
Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00; Sat 08:00–13:00 · 3 km · rostocker-wochenmaerkte.de
Wochenmarkt Toitenwinkel — market
Thu 09:00–17:00 · 4 km · rostocker-wochenmaerkte.de
Wochenmarkt Lütten Klein — market
Tue, Thu 08:00–16:00 · 6 km · rostocker-wochenmaerkte.de
Wochenmarkt Lichtenhagen — market
Sat 08:00–13:00 · 7 km · rostocker-wochenmaerkte.de

Questions