Don't make a drama out of using your old bulbs

To bin or not to bin? That is the question never posed by Shakespeare, but perhaps he wasn't much of a gardener or he was just too busy struggling with the intricacies of Hamlet and Macbeth.

But whereas the Bard seemingly never gave a second thought to the future of the humble hyacinth, there are many people today who would love to know what to do with their Christmas hyacinths once they have finished flowering indoors.

These sweetly-smelling bulbs can still be blooming in March, so there's still a bit of time to answer the conundrum. Yes, those very large bulbs which have produced those very large flowers may get a bit of a shock when they go into the great world outdoors, but most will eventually adapt and go on to flower for years.

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So, later this year, when the potted varieties have finished flowering, find them a nice sunny spot in the garden where the soil is well cultivated and reasonably fertile and plant them a good five inches deep. Then give their dying foliage a liquid feed to help boost the bulb for its future life.

For some strange reason, there are people who want to keep their indoor hyacinths indoors. True, there's no reason why they can't be saved for another year, but for the sake of a few pence, it's better to buy new bulbs.

Nevertheless, if you do want to persevere, let the foliage die down naturally then lift the bulbs and clean off the compost. Then store them in a dry, cool, frost-free place.

Check them occasionally, disposing of any which show signs of disease. Come September, repot the bulbs, water them and put the pots and their contents outdoors, covering them with a few inches of soil.

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Three months later, the bulbs should have sprouted new roots and top growth; bring them indoors and keep them watered but not too warm.

Hopefully, given this treatment, they should flower again.

If you can wait that long, there is a summer-flowering hyacinth – Hyacinthus candicans – which can be planted in the garden in late March to flower in August. It stands three feet tall and produces beautiful white flowers.

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