Currently, several thousand varieties of decorative hyacinths are known, and their list is updated annually. Their common ancestor is Oriental wild hyacinth, a perennial bulbous herb that grows in Asia Minor, Persia, and Greece. There he was planted in gardens over a thousand years ago: a mention of him can be found in the poetry of Firdousi. Already in the 14th – 10th centuries. hyacinths in abundance grew in the gardens of the Sultan in Constantinople, striking tourists from Europe with their beauty.
In the middle of the X VI century. bulbs by then already cultivated hyacinths were brought to Italy, to the city of Padua, more precisely - to its famous botanical garden. For a long time, about 200 years, these plants were considered a luxury item and were grown only in the homes and gardens of the nobility. Nevertheless, hyacinth, the care of which was rather troublesome, spread over time in European countries: the unusual appearance and beauty of this flower, as well as the possibility of winter distillation made it extremely popular. At the end of the nineteenth century, he appeared in Russia.
Bulbs of hyacinths are planted in gardens in the fall, this should be done in late September - early October. The beds need to be prepared in advance: some gardeners advise doing this 1.5–2 months before planting - otherwise the land will not have time to settle. It is better to choose a place for a flower bed in the shade: hyacinths planted in the sun will quickly fade. The soil is dug up to a depth of half a meter, mineral fertilizers and rotted compost are introduced into it, which can be replaced with humus. Hyacinth, the care of which should be carefully thought out, can not be fertilized with fresh organic matter, therefore, it is not worth introducing manure into the beds intended for planting it. Acidic soil requires preliminary liming, and when planting bulbs in clay soil at the bottom of the pit, clean river sand should be poured.
Bulbs should be carefully prepared for planting: they are examined, discarding the sick and spoiled, and always soaked for half an hour in a solution of potassium permanganate or 0.2% malathion. It will also be good to treat them with foundationazole. Bulbs of hyacinths are planted in rows, the distance between which is about 20 cm. The gaps between the individual plants should be at least 12 cm. As for the depth of planting of the bulbs, it is determined, first of all, by their size. The rule is simple: the layer of earth should be three times thicker than the height of the bulb. Soil after planting is mulched with straw. In winter, you can cover the beds with fallen leaves - they should be removed shortly before the end of the frost.
Bulbs sprout in late April. Already at this time, hyacinth, the care of which involves frequent application of fertilizers, needs first feeding. Ammonium nitrate is usually used for it : 20–25 g per 1 m2 are added. The time of the second feeding comes after the buds are set: superphosphate (40 g / m2) and potassium chloride (30 g / m2) are used for it. Finally, for the third time, hyacinths are fed after flowering is completed - in the same way as in the second. Dry fertilizers are applied between rows to a depth of about 10 cm.
In addition to regular top dressing, hyacinth, the care of which requires patience, needs periodic loosening of the soil, and in dry weather - in watering, especially during the setting of buds. It usually blooms until mid-May.
Withered flowers should be removed, as they will “pull” nutrients from the bulbs. Leaving hyacinth, the care after flowering of which is also subject to certain rules, is not recommended for the winter in the open ground - next spring it will bloom much worse. Bulbs are carefully dug out of the ground in late June - early July, after the leaves turn yellow. Then they are dried for about a week in a cool dark room, cleaned from the ground and laid out in paper bags. Bulbs are stored for two months at a temperature of about +25 degrees, and in the month before planting - at +17 degrees Celsius. The room should not be too dry.
For winter forcing, hyacinth bulbs are planted in pots or boxes in the fall, then taken out to a cool (+ 4–7 degrees) place for a period of about three months. After the appearance of sprouts, hyacinths are introduced into a bright room with a temperature of + 16-18 degrees and cover each plant with a paper bag. They are removed after the hyacinths grow to 10-12 cm. After a month they bloom. After flowering and yellowing of the stems, the bulbs are dug up and placed in storage. Home hyacinth, the care of which requires regular watering and top dressing, rarely blooms in a pot the next year. In autumn, it should be planted in the garden or in the flowerbed, but you can use it for distillation again no earlier than two years later.