If planting tall varieties, set your stakes now, taking care not to pierce the corms. Water thoroughly. The Gladiolus bulbs or corm can be grown in rows or bunches. They will tolerate a little crowding but will grow bigger if spaced out. We recommend planting the bulbs inches deep - secured deep in the ground, you are less likely to need a stake. Plant them about inches apart. If you have bought quite a few, don't plant them all at once. Stagger their planting times and you will get a better succession of flowers.
Add mulch to help retain water, and to keep the weeds down. Gladioli need plenty of water to flower well. On well-drained poorer soil, extra watering will be required. Rule of thumb is if the area receives less than 1 inch of rain a week, then water your plants regularly throughout the summer. Soil should remain moist throughout the growing period. Once planted, your gladiolus should grow well with little attention, provided the soil remains moist but not water logged.
Gladiolus plants originate from South Africa and the Mediterranean. After it was brought to Europe, it quickly spread throughout the world. Today, the flower grows just about anywhere! You can often find bulbs in gardening stores for a few bucks. Some nurseries also provide large bulb packs with a wide variety of colors. Yellowstone gladiolus flowers are a sight to behold! They can reach heights of five feet and produce beautiful yellow blossoms.
The flowers feature ruffled petals, giving the plant a romantic look. Best of all, blooms typically last about four weeks with proper care! But those blooming periods produce a lot of flowers. As the name would imply, these flowers take on a darker appearance. Instead of the bright yellow or white hues, Black Beauty gladiolus plants produce deep maroon flowers. Fat Boy gladiolus plants produce vibrant red flowers. The flowers are large, covering up most of the stem. This is a good variety to use on centerpieces and arrangements.
The main part of the flower is pure white. However, the tip of each petal has soft purple lines. This creates a soft hint of purple for every blossom.
If you want even more purple in your garden, the Purple Flora variety is a good choice. The flowers have a royal purple hue. Blossoms are also very large.
Parrot gladiolus plants come in a variety of colors. Often sold in mixes, the most standout feature of the blossom is the contrasting white throat. Skip to content. When Does Gladiolus Sprout? The Growth Process Once you plant your gladiolus bulbs, several things happen. When Will the Sprout Emerge? When is the Best Time to Plant Gladiolus? Read more: How to Grow Beautiful Perennials in Your Garden Now, if you live in areas above zone 7, you can still enjoy all this plant has to offer.
The Right Temperature The best time to plant Gladiolus bulbs is in the early springs. Read More: How to protect your plants from a surprise cold weather Planting a couple of weeks early can be advantageous.
Planting the Bulbs These plants do best in sandy loam that drains well. That said, doing so might help you see sprouts sooner. What is Soaking? How to Soak Gladiolus Bulbs Soaking is a pretty simple process.
What is the Best Variety of Gladiolus to Plant? Here are some of the most popular varieties that you can grow in your garden. Yellowstone Yellowstone gladiolus flowers are a sight to behold! Each stem can have up to 12 flowers, filling your yard up with crisp white color. Black Beauty As the name would imply, these flowers take on a darker appearance. Fat Boy Fat Boy gladiolus plants produce vibrant red flowers.
Once the foliage grows, you can add twine to the stakes to support the stalks. Place stakes, such as bamboo sticks, around clustered groupings and along fronts and backs of your long trough rows. They should be tall enough that you can wrap twine or fine rope around them at a height that is about half to two-thirds of the mature height of the foliage. Maintain even moisture in the soil until blooming begins, and then provide about an inch of water per week in the absence of rain.
When the foliage is about eight inches tall, you can apply a fertilizer NPK per package instructions. The fertilizer should be a slow release product, and you should avoid those that are high in nitrogen, or you may just get all leaves and few to no flowers. Top dress the soil around the plants with a two- to three-inch layer of light mulch , such as pine needles or straw. This helps to inhibit weed growth and competition for water, without becoming compacted and oversaturated.
For a succession of blooms all season long, save some corms to sow every 10 days or so right through to midsummer. In addition to garden cultivation, you may also plant your gladiolus in containers, with a depth of 12 inches, which allows room for the roots to grow. Alternatively, you can move your containers to a frost-free location, such as a garage or shed. When cutting scapes for vases, be sure to use clean pruning shears to avoid introducing bacteria to the plant tissue.
To maintain a tidy appearance, you may cut a scape at its point of origin after all of the flowers along its length have finished blooming. Other than cutting for vases and removing spent stems, the only other cutting that may be required during the growing season is the removal of foliage that has been damaged, to prevent it from becoming vulnerable to pests and disease.
In addition, any plant material that is infested or infected may be cut away in an attempt to salvage the plant. In the spring, remove the old mulch and apply a fresh two- to three-inch layer of light pine needles or straw to aid in moisture retention and inhibit weed growth.
In the fall, after the foliage has turned yellow and then brown, you can trim it to a height of about two inches and remove the debris in preparation for winter dormancy. Once all the plants are settled, re-mulch for the winter with two to three inches of pine needles or straw. Once all of the foliage dies down, they virtually disappear and you may forget where they are. In Zones 6 and colder, you can cut the withered foliage and lift the corms for winter storage, unless you are growing the hardiest species and cultivars that can withstand cold to Zone 4.
To store corms, shake off the soil and lay them out to dry for several weeks in a single layer on a wire rack or tray, in a cool, dry location. Here are some gorgeous varieties to whet your appetite. Be sure to note mature heights and bloom times as you pick your favorites.
Also known as the peacock lily, the Abyssinian type, G. Abyssinian Gladiolus. Find Abyssinian gladiolus now from Eden Brothers in bags of 25, 50, and The Byzantine species, G. Byzantine Gladiolus. Its two-inch flowers resemble orchids in a luscious shade of magenta, often with throats accented in white.
Find Byzantine gladiolus now from Burpee in packages of This mix of dwarf bulbs, G. Hardy Dwarf Mix. Starry, orchid-like blooms measure two inches across and sport shades of pink and white, often accented by deep red. Rainbow mix is a mixture of different colored flowers from a class of especially large hybrids G.
Rainbow Mix. Mature heights of 50 to 60 inches create eye-catching vertical interest. Stake and plant behind flora of smaller stature for support and maximum visual appeal. Find Rainbow Mix now from Eden Brothers in bags of When you are shopping, look for those that are firm, with crisp husks, and no blemishes, deformity, or odor. Choose those that have been pre-treated with hot soaks and fungicides, if available. There are, however, some pests that favor this plant, and may be the carriers of a variety of diseases.
Spraying plants with organic neem oil is very effective against aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki Btk is an excellent treatment for caterpillar infestations.
Most can be avoided by planting healthy corms and keeping pests under control to prevent them from spreading disease. Choose early-blooming varieties to interplant with other organically-rich, light-soil loving flowers, such as dahlias , irises, and peonies. Later bloomers play well with yarrow and zinnias. Use the tallest varieties at the backs of beds and borders as impressive anchors. Lower profile plants in front will help to hold the long stems erect.
Even before they bloom, the sword-like tapered foliage adds texture and interest to the garden. Smaller varieties make excellent container plants for small space gardening. And if you are interested in having armloads of flowers to cut and bring into the house, plant rows in succession from spring to midsummer. When you add gladioli to the garden, you have more than unique plants with robust blooms, and rich texture and form. You increase the availability of nectar for pollinating bees , beneficial insects , butterflies, and hummingbirds that seem to take great pleasure in diving into the tubular blossoms.
So often, our flowers hover near the ground in rounded clusters. With the infusion of height into a mixed bed, you can draw the eye upward at desired intervals for greater visual appeal and rich textural variation. Choose your favorites, and plant them in sunny locations with organically-rich, slightly acidic, well-draining soil.
Give them a great start with consistent moisture and plant in succession for blooms all season long. Do you grow gladiolus? Share your tips in the comments section below and feel free to share a picture!
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