Digging Deep: How Deep to Plant Gladiolus Bulbs?

Gladiolus Winter Hardiness

The most common zones of hardiness for standard Grandiflora gladioli(your typical garden gladioli) can be found in zones 8 or warmer. It is nevertheless well-known that if you cover the corms with good mulch it is possible to keep the plants alive even in zone 6 or 7 with specific species like "Nanus Hybrids." In cooler climates glad corms need to be removed, dried, and stored until winter months.

To ensure the most stunning flowers, plant glads in full sunlight (6 -8 hours sun every day) in soil that's well-drained and moderately fertile. They'll not thrive in soggy, heavy soil. Add the compost (humus) with your dirt to increase the consistency and fertility of your soil.

When to Plant Gladiolus

Plant gladiolus corms early in the spring, once the risk of frost is gone and the soil is warmed up to at the very least 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13degC).

From the date of your last frost until early summer, you can plant a new corm every 10 days or so. This will lead to constant blooms until early fall!

Based on the type, it will take between 60 and 90 days after the time that glads are planted to allow the corms of the plant to take root grow, develop, and then bloom.

How to Plant Gladiolus

Prepare your garden making use of a tiller or garden fork to loosen soil, which should be 12 - 15 inches of depth. After lifting the soil then mix in two to four inches layers of compost. You can also mix in old manure.

For blooms that are large For large-sized blooms, you should plant corms that measure at least 1 1/4 inches in diameter.

Place the corm into the hole approximately 4 inches deep, with the pointed side facing upwards. Then cover the corm with soil and then press it firmly.

The corms should be spaced 6-8 inches apart.

If you plant gladioli mostly to be cut flowers, place the flowers in rows. It's easier to care for the plants and collect the flowers.

If you are planting it alongside different flowers that are in the borders of beds, place them in clusters of seven or more to get the greatest impact.

The corms should be soaked in water prior to the time of planting.

If you're planting taller varieties ensure that you stake them prior to planting. Be cautious not to harm the corms using stakes.

How to Grow Gladiolus

Apply a 2 to 4 inch layer of mulch around your gladioli in order to keep the soil moist and prevent the growth of weeds.

If you only get less than one inch of rainfall per week, you should make sure to water your plants frequently all through summer. In other cases, you can water them less during growth to ensure that the soil stays damp.

Take out the dead or faded flowers to ensure that the flowers continue to bloom. When every flower on the plant are gone, cut the stem off about 2 to 3 inches over the soil.

Make sure you leave the plant in its original condition so that it will mature and develop the corms for the following season.

Winter Protection for Gladiolus

If you are in USDA Zone 8 or higher place in an adobe layer or straw to provide winter protection. Gladiolus will be kept in the ground throughout the winter months, provided that a strong freeze (28degF or lower) isn't a common occurrence in your region.

In colder areas (Zone seven or less colder) Dig out gladioli corms after the foliage is faded after the first frost of fall. A slight frost could destroy the foliage, but not the remainder of the plant. Make sure you dig up the gladiolus corms prior to an extremely cold freeze (28degF) otherwise the plants may be fatally damaged.

However, many gardeners who reside in "border" zones 6 and 7 have tried putting their gladiolus in the soil and discovered that they survived It's a judgment decision based on your microclimate and the variety of gladiolus and the climate shifts.

Digging Up and Storing Gladioli Corms

To get rid of the gladioli corms to use for Winter storage purposes, use these guidelines:

Make use of a spade to take the whole plant out by grasping the top of the plant to remove it from the soil. Avoid injury or bruising corms when digging. Shake off any dirt (do not rinse it off) and then discard the damaged corms. Cut the stalk to 1 or 2 inches over the corm. Keep the smaller cormels separate If you want to. They will flower within two to three years If you plant them every spring.

Let the corms remain dry under the shade for a day or 2 days if weather cooperates. Remove any soil that is not needed and put corms in wooden flats or tray. Then, let them rest in a warm and airy area for a period of about 2 weeks. Take and dispose of the oldest corms at the bottom (from the base of new corms).

Do not remove the husks from the corms.

Clean the corms by using a chemical called a fungicide ("bulb dust") to prevent health issues. Put bulbs and the dust in a bag of paper and shake it vigorously.

Place the corms into cloth or paper pantyhose bags, old onion bags. Hang the containers on a rack or stack them so that air can circulate among them. Keep the corms in a temperature of 35 to 45 degF (2 to 7 degrees Celsius) at a moderate humidity. Cool basements are appropriate. Don't allow corms to get frozen.

Plant these corms again in the spring to enjoy another beautiful year of blooms.