Growing Gladiolus
Gladiolus are typically sold in the late winter and spring in garden centers, nurseries, and from garden catalogs.
Gladiolus are versatile plants that can fill various roles in the garden. They can be planted in beds and borders as well as in containers and rock gardens. These look great if they’re planted in masses and clumps.
Gardeners can grow gladiolus from seeds as well as the cormels that develop around the original corm.
The best time for planting these vary from one location to another based on the climate. In the western half of the country and the Deep South, gladiolus can be grown in the winter. For cold climates, the best time is in the spring as soon as the date of the last expected frost has past.
These plants need a long growing season of three months or so (60 to 100 days). This time is needed for the plants to begin blooming properly.
In warm climates, these can be planted most any time. One option is to do successive plantings a couple weeks apart so you can always have some gladiolus blooming during the warm seasons.
The proper planting depth can vary slightly according to the size of the corm. This can vary from ½ inch depth for very small ones and four inches deep for medium sized corms. The largest corms should be planted eight inches deep.
Planting the corms deep does tend to provide the plant with some support. Full sun is best for gladiolus.
The distance between gladiolus plants can vary based on the goals and expectations of the gardener. Spacing the plants father apart encourages the plants to grow taller and to get larger sized blooms.
The preferred soil is a sandy well drained one. It can range from neutral to acid. The best soils for gladiolus are rich in organic matter. Mix fertilizer and organic matter into the soil before planting gladiolus.
In cold climates, the corms will need to be dug at the end of the growing season and stored indoors in a frost-free place for the winter. You can dig the gladiolus from four to six weeks after they have quit blooming. This gives you time to dig and dry the corms before storing them. Gladiolus corms should be uncovered during storage and placed in a well ventilated place.
When growing gladiolus for cut flowers, the best time to cut these stems are once the lower blooms on a stem are fully expanded.
For best results, gladiolus benefit from some routine care, such weeding, as watering, fertilizing several times during the growing season, and staking for the large flowered ones.
For best results, an additional application of a standard fertilizer can be applied about four weeks after the gladiolus are planted.
Gladiolus are versatile plants that can fill various roles in the garden. They can be planted in beds and borders as well as in containers and rock gardens. These look great if they’re planted in masses and clumps.
Gardeners can grow gladiolus from seeds as well as the cormels that develop around the original corm.
The best time for planting these vary from one location to another based on the climate. In the western half of the country and the Deep South, gladiolus can be grown in the winter. For cold climates, the best time is in the spring as soon as the date of the last expected frost has past.
These plants need a long growing season of three months or so (60 to 100 days). This time is needed for the plants to begin blooming properly.
In warm climates, these can be planted most any time. One option is to do successive plantings a couple weeks apart so you can always have some gladiolus blooming during the warm seasons.
The proper planting depth can vary slightly according to the size of the corm. This can vary from ½ inch depth for very small ones and four inches deep for medium sized corms. The largest corms should be planted eight inches deep.
Planting the corms deep does tend to provide the plant with some support. Full sun is best for gladiolus.
The distance between gladiolus plants can vary based on the goals and expectations of the gardener. Spacing the plants father apart encourages the plants to grow taller and to get larger sized blooms.
The preferred soil is a sandy well drained one. It can range from neutral to acid. The best soils for gladiolus are rich in organic matter. Mix fertilizer and organic matter into the soil before planting gladiolus.
In cold climates, the corms will need to be dug at the end of the growing season and stored indoors in a frost-free place for the winter. You can dig the gladiolus from four to six weeks after they have quit blooming. This gives you time to dig and dry the corms before storing them. Gladiolus corms should be uncovered during storage and placed in a well ventilated place.
When growing gladiolus for cut flowers, the best time to cut these stems are once the lower blooms on a stem are fully expanded.
For best results, gladiolus benefit from some routine care, such weeding, as watering, fertilizing several times during the growing season, and staking for the large flowered ones.
For best results, an additional application of a standard fertilizer can be applied about four weeks after the gladiolus are planted.
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