Planting Gladiolas (or Gladiolus) is perhaps the most popular of all gardeners. The beautiful summer bulbs are colorful and brighten up any garden. However, they are not just for gardens, they also work great for a bouquet of flowers for your home or even a gift. Gladiolas require a great deal of care and a keen watchful eye.
When to Plant
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Gladiolas thrive when specific conditions are met. They love humidity and warmer regions. They require consistent water and a well-tilled, rich soil. When should you plant gladiolas? Well, it depends on where you live. Check the package of your corm bulb and determine which zone you live in. Typically, when planting gladiolas, you plant the corm bulbs during the spring season, when any threat of frost has passed.
Gladiolas are extremely sensitive to any type of frost. Therefore, planting should wait until frost has passed and if you live in an area in which frost is a regular occurrence, you will need to dig up the bulbs during the fall months, before the first frost, and store them in your home. For warmer, frost-free areas of the world, you can leave your gladiolas in the ground during the winter months.
Where to plant
You want to make sure that you choose an area of your yard that receives maximum sunlight. Full sun is best, however, if you cannot get away from a partial shade, your gladiolas will still grow. When determining which area of your yard to plant in, make sure the soil is moist, but with good drainage.
When planting several gladiolas at once, ensure that you leave about four to six inches of space between corm bulbs. The more space you give your plant the bigger your plant will grow, giving you awesome gladiolas during the summer.
Care and Information
You can expect to start seeing blooms in about three months or less after planting the corms. Your stems may need some support during the growth period, therefore, you may want to consider staking them up to keep them perky and tall.
Gladiolas come in a variety of colors and you can generally expect blooms between July and September each year. They have an average height of anywhere from forty to sixty inches and are perfect for use in your home, cut flowers, or even as borders around your home or landscape.
Beginners Guide To Planting Gladiolas
Lee Dobbins writes for Backyard Garden And Patio where you can learn about gardening and find out more about planting gladiolas.