Gladiolus is an easy-to-grow flowering bulb that produced an abundant display of beautiful blooms for the home garden or for commercial florists. They are also known as Sword Lilies. They are part of the Iris family (Iridaceae).
Gladiolus range from 2’-5’ tall with graceful trumpet-shaped blossoms borne in a double row along the stem. Flowers come on upright spikes, usually one per corm. Gladiolus grows from a bulb-like underground structure known as a corm. With the onset of spring growth, stems emerge from the corms and give rise to 1 - 9 narrow un-branched, sword-shaped, longitudinal grooved leaves enclosed in a sheath. They will need full sun in moist well-drained soil. Very sandy or heavy clay soils should be amended with organic materials such as compost or peat moss.
Plant corms after soil warms up in the spring,
from mid-April to mid-June. Place corms at a depth of three to four times their diameter, and 4 to 6 inches apart. Work a complete fertilizer. Corms can be planted every 10 to 14 days for a
succession of blooms. Corms bloom 65-100 days after planting. Plant the last
set to bloom before frost. Gladiolus can be planted in rows but usually will
need support. It is important to water gladiolus regularly during growth.
Continue watering after flowering as long as leaves are green. Gladiolus thrips are the most common problem and are usually
present wherever gladiolus are grown. Thrips feed by rasping the leaves,
flowers & corms.
To save gladiolus corms for next year, dig the corms after the foliage has dried in late summer or fall. Spread the corms out on the garage or storage-room floor and allow to dry for 3 to 4 days. Place the corms in boxes with dry peat moss or sawdust. Store in a dry, cool place at a temperature of 45 to 50 degrees F. Check them periodically during the winter for signs of rotting or rodent damage, and discard those affected. Enjoy!
