You see them appear in April like a fragrant blue mist over the meadow– grape hyacinth (Muscari spp.), offering so much in a small packet. The true-blue beauty of their vivid blossoms stands out in the garden and delights the bees. These flowers are not bothered by frost, and they are undemanding and low maintenance in USDA Hardiness zones 4 to 8. Best of all, grape hyacinths are easy to dig up after flowering. Can you replant grape hyacinths? Yes, you can. Read on for all the info you need about how to store hyacinth bulbs after flowering.
Digging Grape Hyacinths
Why should you buy more grape hyacinth bulbs when–by digging up grape hyacinths–you can get lots of new starts from the bulbs you’ve planted? Wait until the blossoms wilt, leaving only the leaves and stems. Then you can start digging up grape hyacinths and storing grape hyacinth bulbs. It’s a simple, three-step process. Lift up the clump with a spade inserted far enough away from the bulbs that you don’t accidentally damage them. Take the time to loosen the soil on all sides of the clump before you lift it. Then it’s less likely to fall apart. As you are digging grape hyacinths up out of the ground, brush off the soil from the bulbs. Once the clump is out, you can see the bulbs and the new offsets. Divide up the cluster into smaller pieces, then break off the biggest and most attractive bulbs to replant.
How to Store Hyacinth Bulbs after Flowering
Once you have the bulbs separated and the soil brushed off, chill them in the refrigerator, storing grape hyacinth bulbs there for up to six weeks. If you live in USDA hardiness zones 8 and higher, your bulbs need chilling for good stem elongation. When you are storing grape hyacinth bulbs, use a breathable paper or cloth bag.
Can You Replant Grape Hyacinths?
You can replant grape hyacinths in September in cooler climates or wait until October when you live in warm-winter zones. All you need to do is find likely places in your garden with sunshine and sandy, well-draining soil, and plant each bulb, pointy end up, in a hole 4 to 5 inches (10-13 cm.) deep.
-
Grow a Bathroom Oasis: 8 Best Bathroom Plants With No Light or Low LightSome apartment dwellers grow the best bathroom plants with no light or low light. Read how one of our favorite plant lovers does it in the big city.
-
"My Worst Mistake" – Gardeners Share 10 Hard-Learned LessonsGardeners never stop learning, and sometimes our mistakes are the best teachers. But why not save time and heartache by learning from other gardeners' failures?
-
Feather Hyacinth Plants – Tips For Planting Feathered Grape Hyacinth BulbsThe feather hyacinth, aka tassel hyacinth plant, can add another cool textural element to the garden with their feathery plumes. If you have some of these bulbs and are ready to go, click this article for tips on how to grow a Muscari feather hyacinth, including tips on their care.
-
Muscari Propagation: Learn About Propagating Grape Hyacinth Bulbs And SeedsIf you want to start growing grape hyacinth, or want to expand your collection, propagating grape hyacinths is very easy. Click this article to learn about propagation from grape hyacinth bulbs and grape hyacinth seeds.
-
Grape Hyacinth After Flowering – Learn About Muscari Care After BloomingWhen the grape hyacinth blooming season comes to an end, you need to care for the bulbs to protect and preserve them so that they can bloom again the following year. Read on for information about Muscari care after blooming.
-
Growing Grape Hyacinth In Containers: How To Plant Muscari Bulbs In PotsGrape hyacinths are not, contrary to popular belief, related to hyacinths. They're actually a type of lily. They have a shockingly beautiful blue color (except when they're white) and a heavenly scent. They also grow very well in pots, and this article will help.
-
Types Of Grape Hyacinths: Grape Hyacinth Varieties For The GardenThere are many grape hyacinth varieties, 40 species alone, that are resilient additions to the landscape mirroring the blue skies heralding winter's end. So what are grape hyacinth plants and what types of grape hyacinths are suited to your garden? Learn more here.
-
Muscari Seed Planting: How To Grow Grape Hyacinth Flower SeedsGrape hyacinth seed propagation is not as easy or quick as growing the plants from mature bulbs but it is an inexpensive way to further expand your stock of these appealing flowers. Click this article to learn more about Muscari seed planting.
-
Caring For Grape Hyacinth In Lawns: How To Naturalize Grape Hyacinth BulbsSome gardeners aren't crazy about the idea of grape hyacinths popping up in a tidy lawn, but others love the carefree appearance amid the grass. If you belong to the latter group, click here to learn how to naturalize grape hyacinth bulbs in your lawn.
-
Tassel Hyacinth Growing: Learn About Tassel Hyacinth Bulbs In The GardenTassel hyacinth bulbs are considered a delicacy in Mediterranean countries where the plant is cultivated for this purpose. Read this article for more wild tassel hyacinth info, and learn how to take care of tassel hyacinths in your garden.
