How to Raise Gladiolus Cultivars
The North American Gladiolus Council classifies cultivators of gladiolus flowers by a number. This is due to extensive past breeding resulting in many different cultivators. Each three-digit number represents the size of the bloom in inches and its color and form. There are summer and winter blooming cultivators of gladiolus. They are available in every color except true blue and true green. The gladiolus grows from a bulb-like structure called a corm. The size of the corm is in direct relation to the size of future blooms. Plant gladiolus corms in spring or early summer. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Organic matter
- Tiller or garden rake
- 8-8-8 fertilizer
- Garden spade
- Rain gauge
- Garden hose
- Wooden stake
- String
- Hand pruners
- Shallow pan
- Mesh produce bag, empty
Instructions
-
-
1
Lay down a 5-inch layer of organic matter in the planting area. Use a tiller or garden rake to turn over the soil and organic matter to a depth of 12 inches.
-
2
Spread four cups of an 8-8-8 commercial fertilizer on the bed for every 100 square feet of planting area. Use a garden rake to work the crystals into the top 4 inches of soil. Drag the garden rake across the bed to level out the prepared soil.
-
-
3
Dig a hole in the planting area with a small garden spade. The larger the corm, the deeper you will need to make the hole. If your corms average 1.5 inches or more, dig the hole 6 inches deep and space the holes six inches apart. Medium-sized corms from 1 inch to 1.5 inches need to be planted 5 inches deep and four inches apart. Plant corms smaller than 1 inch wide 3 inches deep and two inches apart.
-
4
Place the corm at the bottom of the hole with the pointed side facing up. Backfill the hole with loosely packed soil.
-
5
Water the planting area with at least 1 inch of water per week. Use a rain gauge to determine how much rain fell on the garden in the past week. Add the remainder of the necessary water to the garden with a garden hose.
-
6
Push a wooden stake in the ground, about 6 inches, next to a full-grown gladiolus plant. Use a piece of string to tie the plant to the stake. This will support the gladiolus in high winds.
-
7
Dig up the gladiolus corms in the fall. Use hand pruners to cut the stem where it meets the corm. Place the corms in a shallow pan in a cool area to dry out. The drying-out process will take three weeks.
-
8
Snap off the spent corm from the new corm once dry. Do this by holding the corms in your hands and bending them. It will snap in between the old and new corms. Discard old corms in the garbage or compost bin and place new corms in a mesh produce bag. Store the bags of corms in a well-ventilated area between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit until spring.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
