how I force hyacinth bulbs for Christmas

First I take all my hyacinth vases out of the cellar. Then I try to decide which colour hyacinth would look best in each vase and note the variety on my list. I stopped here after doing about two thirds so I could fill the vases with water and put them back in the cellar. I make sure not to fill them too high. The bulbs must not be sitting in water or they will rot. I put them back in the cellar (a dark place) for 12 to 15 weeks. Twelve weeks from now takes me up to the end of November, perfect time for the vases to come out of the cellar to have hyacinths in flower for Christmas. If they need a few weeks longer I'll have flowers in January.

With about a third of the vases left on the table it gives me more room and makes the task a little easier.

I break off any bulblets before I put the bulb in the vase: 1. it won't develop properly, 2. it will take energy away from the main flower.

Unfortunately it doesn't show very well but this uranium hyacinth vase was glowing a bit, especially as the sun was going down. I use the plastic box to carry the vases into the cellar to reduce the risk of dropping them and so I can carry more than 2 at a time.

My last few vases - rather boring clear ones - they can have the last bulbs. I have all the choices noted on my print-out which I will use to update my spreadsheet. I have a few bulblets there I can plant. I've tried that before but not much came of them - my usual problem - I didn't water them enough.

I had to use the table in the garden as I didn't have room inside - and it saved me carrying all the vases up the stairs from the patio to the kitchen.

I said yesterday I was going to mail order some more bulbs but after looking at the catalogues again last night I don't think I need to when I can get reasonable bulbs locally and there aren't any particular varieties I really want. I do need a few more bulbs for my bulb bowls and pots but I'm sure my local garden centre will be fine.

I thinned my small vases quite alot and these few are all I have left. Crocus and tulips take such a long time to grow their roots and bloom and the flowers last such a short time (especially crocus) that I decided I didn't want to do too many but I will get some to put in these vases.

Now that the vases are started, I need to start the bowls. The hyacinth bulbs are so large I don't think I can fit 5 on the smaller bowls. The bowl with 7 holes is for crocus.

these hyacinth bulbs are enormous, I don't recall them ever being so big, I guess the weather was better for them this year