ColorChallenge: SundayPurple - Hyacinth

Intensely fragrant hyacinths are among the first flowers to welcome spring. Too bad the picture can't capture the scent!

Plant hyacinths in masses by color (they range from white through shades of pink and blue to the deep purple pictured here) for a stunning effect. The flower heads can be loose, like these, or dense clusters of individual tubular, single or double flowers. You can also "force" hyacinth bulbs to bloom indoors in containers.

Outdoors:
Plant hyacinth bulbs in the fall, before the first frost, for blooms the next spring. Choose a place with well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun to part shade. Loosen soil and work in compost or bonemeal at planting. Plant the bulbs 4 inches deep* and at least 3 inches apart. Plant with the pointy end up, cover with soil, and water thoroughly. *(Plant deeper in colder winter areas, up to 6-8 inches deep in USDA Zone 4, the northern limit for growing hyacinths.)

Indoors:
Bulbs may be grown indoors for flowers in the winter. Use flowerpots or containers that drain, as they don't like being waterlogged, and they'll respond by rotting. Plant them in potting mix, and leave the tips showing. After planting, set them in a cool, dark place, between 35 and 45 degrees F for 2 months or longer so they develop strong roots. Gradually increase light and temperatures when the shoots are about 1 inch. Keep moist, not wet, avoiding getting water on the shoots. After flowering, plant them in your garden in the spring in a hyacinth-friendly location, as described above.

This is my contribution to #ColorChallenge #SundayPurple by @kalemandra

#gardeningbydolama