In the orchard we grow fruits, berries, vegetables, beans, tubers and vegetables for family consumption, we also use the cultivated land to grow decorative gourds, vegetable sponges and various flowers such as gladioli. Gladioli have great decorative use both indoors and outdoors. Many people do not know well when to plant gladioli.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you when to plant gladioli and what their characteristics are.
Key features
The gladiolus or gladiolus (this is its scientific name) is native to the warm regions of South Africa, the Middle East and southern Europe. It belongs to the Iridaceae family and is a bulbous plant, although the “bulb” is actually called corms.
These classic flower spikes have been passed down from generation to generation and can decorate the garden in the height of summer or be used in bouquets. Today’s gardeners can choose from a wide variety of flowers, colors and heights, so there is no doubt that there are gladioli to suit everyone. Gladioli are generally grouped by flower size: they can be miniature or huge.
Some of the most popular, up to five feet tall, are available in a variety of colors: maroon, pink, yellow, cream, coral, and even green. While many gardeners choose to grow gladioli plants as cut flowers, we must not forget that they are very attractive in annual gardens alongside zinnias, lavenders, and trellises.
When to plant gladioli
Gladiolus bulbs can be planted two weeks before the last expected frost in spring. It takes 40 to 60 days from sowing to flowering (12 hours of light for flowering).
For a continuous harvest of flower spikes, plant a few bulbs every two weeks from spring to early summer. Here are some tips:
- Plant the bulbs at a depth of 5 to 10 cm, depending on the size of the bulb. The distance between them should be about 10-15 cm.
- You can plant them in rows or in groups of 10 or 15 bulbs.
- One important thing we must not forget is to spray them with fungicide before planting to prevent future problems.
- Once the plants sprout and are about 10cm tall, make mounds around them to help support the stems.
Taller varieties often require staking or staking to prevent flower spikes from bending and falling in the wind.
Making mounds around the plants helps a lot, but ideally use individual pegs or create a grid to hold them in place and keep the stems upright. Remember to put stakes during planting to avoid damaging the bulbs later.
Substrate and temperature
Once we know when to plant gladioli, we must move on to the requirements. First of all is the substrate. Although they adapt to many types of soil, these beauties are comfortable in sandy, well-drained soil. Any soil suitable for growing vegetables is suitable for gladioli.
You can mix some compost into the planting bed before planting to help with drainage and soil fertility. Of course, he hates fresh poop, so don’t even think about throwing it on the floor. gladioli they do not compete well with other plants or weeds, so for best results, keep the surrounding area clean.
Most varieties of gladioli only overwinter in very warm regions, except for one particular variety, Gladiolus nanus, which can overwinter in temperate regions.
When to plant gladioli: flowering
Gladiolus flowers appear in summer (usually early) and can bloom well into fall, especially if you plant them in stages. Its very straight flower stalks are long spikes of several large, narrow flowers. The leaves are long and pointed.
As for the colors, there is a great variety. You can find them in maroon, pink, yellow, cream, coral and even green. It is good to cut the withered flowers to allow the bulbs to begin to accumulate nutrientsbut should be cut back once the flower spikes are completely faded.
If you are interested in growing gladioli as cut flowers, the spikes should be cut when the lower flowers on the stem begin to show color. By cutting the flower stems, you can leave at least four leaves on the plant so the bulbs can feed properly and bloom the next year. Immediately after cutting, soak the stems in water.
Lighting, irrigation and fertilizer
The preferred lighting location for gladioli is in full sun, and while they can tolerate a bit of sun, they do best in full sun. This bulbous plant will not flower in the shade.
Gladiolus watering should be adequate at first and less afterwardsbut avoiding drying out the soil, since it can abort and not flower if there is a lack of water (especially during the appearance of the flower stems).
Remember to keep the area where you plant gladiolus free of weeds, as all they do is compete for nutrients and moisture. A good idea is to cover with coarse bark mulch, sawdust or straw.
Keep gladiolus plants well watered to produce larger flowers, and the soil should be moist, but not waterlogged.
When paying, choose a water-soluble fertilizer, when the plant grows about 25 cm, apply it at a minimum distance of 10-12 cm from the stem. When the flower spikes start to develop color, you can do a second fertilization. Avoid “ammoniacal fertilizers” as they stimulate the growth of Fusarium.
As for how to store gladiolus bulbs, in warmer regions you can bury them in the ground and try to cover the ground with a layer of hay or straw to protect them from winter temperatures. In less warm regions, with the exception of some resistant varietieswe must dig up the bulbs to store them in winter before the first frost to be able to plant gladioli next summer.
In general, the bulbs can be dug up about six weeks after flowering, and we will know when their leaves begin to yellow and die.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about when to plant gladiolus two and how you should grow it.
