start of the forcing year 2024

16-9-2024

The first step in forcing hyacinths is buying bulbs. I got my bulb delivery from Peter Nyssen a couple days ago (ordered them in August) but there are bulbs in the garden centre if you didn't order mail order. This is the first time I'm forcing hyacinth bulbs in my new place so it's rather stressful. I no longer have my cellar but I do have a cabinet in my garage although not exactly sure how all the vases will fit in that. I updated my spreadsheet and printed it to note which hyacinth variety I am putting in each vase. I also had to clear off my patio table to work on.

I mostly buy mail order but I have some very small vases that need smaller bulbs, those 3 on the right (white and 2 clear), for example. I have found Sainsbury's bulbs are quite small and will do a count of how many I need and buy some. Since moving I'm not so close to a Sainsbury's so will need to make a special trip (I used to go all the time but it was only 5 mins away).

I started with Apricot Passion hyacinth bulbs (4 on the left) and Scarlet Pearl on the right. I've not used thoses varieties before. I like to try different hyacinths (both prepared and unprepared) and compare results.

Whenever I start my hyacinths, at least one cat comes and checks things out. I like to put white hyacinths in the green vases. This year I bought Snow Crystal, a new variety I've not tried before.

Those tall green vases have very large openings, so had to use Scarlet Pearl rather than Snow Crystal.

I filled each vase with water ensuring the bulb did not touch the water and put them in the garage. I will check them in a few weeks. When the bulge of the flower is out of the bulb and the stem is bulging, it will be time to bring them out into the light.

In addition to the Apricot Passion, Snow Crystal and Scarlet Pearl hyacinths, I have prepared Delft Blue ("the" forcing variety), prepared Jan Bos and prepared Woodstock.

17-9-2024 continuing the forcing, I brought out all the tall hand-blown hyacinth vases - my favourite, I usually use Delft Blue hyacinths in those

pair of black Prattware vases at the back, they have larger openings so I need to check all the bulbs and see which are largest

I have 3 glassroots (designed by Margaret Howell) hyacinth vases, on the left, the purple one is not marked on the base as the others are but so so similar, I have no doubt they are the same producer

Byzanta Ware hyacinth vases, recently found the orange one on ebay, curious to know how many different designs / colours were produced but never found any information about them

terracotta hyacinth vases, Prattware winged griffin on the left

3 Broste Copenhagen jack-in-the-pulpit hyacinth vases

I love cobalt blue glass, both antique and more modern such as the front left and right