Gladiolus(Gladiolus), also known colloquially as Gladioli, are bulbous perennials, originating from South and Central Africa, eagerly grown in garden beds. Most of them are not fully frost-proof and require digging out the bulbs before winter comes. See whatgrowing gladioli looks likein the garden, when to plantgladioli , when to dig up their bulbs and how to store them over the winter. Here are the top tips for growing gladioli.
Garden gladioli
Varieties of gladioli
Thanks to the crossing of gladioli, a huge number of multi-colored hybrids was obtained. Hybridvarieties of gladioliare divided into groups depending on the origin, however, it is virtually impossible to determine which species the hybrids come from. Therefore, hybrid varieties of gladioli are simply referred to asgarden gladioli(Gladiolus x hybridus).
Brightly colored and eye-catching on garden bedsvarieties of gladiolusare best presented in groups consisting of several or even a dozen plants of the same variety. Smaller hybrids and more modest looking species can be combined with other plants. Decorative top spikes of gladioli, composed of funnel-shaped flowers in vivid colors, are also perfect for cut flowers.
Planting gladioli
Gladiolus bulbs are plantedfrom mid-April to the end of May.We plant them immediately at the target position. Gladioli can be grown in sunny positions and, if possible, sheltered from the wind, on soils previously fed with fertilizers, such as Azofoska. They require neutral or slightly acidic soil (pH 6.5 - 7). Acidic soil must be limed in the fall of the previous year.
Plant the gladiolus bulbson a layer of sand to a depth of about 10 - 15 cm and with a spacing of 15 - 20 cm. Before planting the bulbs, remove the cover scales (the so-called T-shirts) and then season them with a fungicide, eg 50WP suspension captan or Topsin. If pests of gladioli, such as thrips have been found earlier on the plot, it is also worth to treat the onions with an insecticide, e.g. Actellic 500 EC.
In the amateurcultivation of gladioliin the plots and in gardens For homeowners, however, it is usually sufficient to soak in denatured alcohol, undiluted or 0.1-0.5% potassium permanganate solution for 20 minutes. After wet dressing, the onions should be superficially dried.It can also be dry seasoned with Zaprawa Nasienna T or Sarfun T.
Growing gladioli
If we properly prepared the soil and planted the bulbs correctly, the furthercultivation of gladiolishould not cause too much trouble. However, plants should be regularly inspected for the presence of diseases and pests. During vegetation, in the case of gladioli with fungal diseases (especially after prolonged rains), spray with fungicides (you can alternate between Kaptan and Topsin, recommended above for dressing). Plants can also be threatened by pests, such as aphids, thrips, fly larvae and the nematode.
Garden gladioli
When gladioli have 4 leaves, fill them with ammonium or calcium nitrate and loosen the soil. We re-supply the gladioli with Azofoska during heading, combined with loosening the soil. It is also recommended to feed the foliar several times, e.g.Florovit. Proper fertilization of gladioli is very important for the he alth of plants and their abundant flowering.
Another important treatment ingrowing gladioliis watering. In dry weather it should be watered, especially before and during flowering.
When it's time to bloomfor flowering gladioli , we can cut them into a vase or leave them in the flowerbed to decorate the garden. Ifwe growgladioli as a cut flower, the ears should be cut as soon as the first flower bud begins to develop. Thanks to this, they will bloom in the vase for up to 3 weeks. If they remain on the discount, remember that they will become dusty and after a few years they will all change their color to the color of the dominant variety, e.g. wild pink.
Digging gladioli
With the end of summer, the gladioli bulbs need to be dug up.Digging up gladioli bulbscan be started 6 weeks after the plants have faded, even though the leaves are still green. The optimaldate for digging gladioliis mid-September.After digging, cut the shoot about 10 cm above the bulb and dry it until the new bulb easily separates from the roots and the remains of the old onion. Then we dry the gladioli in the sun or in a well-ventilated room. After drying the bulbs, store them in a cool, frost-free room (preferably at a temperature of 5 to 10 ° C and air humidity of about 70%). Every few weeks, we check the condition of the bulbs and throw away those with symptoms of disease or mummified ones. Those that survive the winter in good condition can go to the garden bed again in spring.
