7 Tips for Growing Gladiolus — I purchased 130 gladiolus bulbs last week. Gladiolus are one of my favorite flowers to grow in the garden for cut flower arrangements. Plus, while 130 seems like a lot, when you spread them throughout the garden, it really isn’t all that much.
Planting gladiolus bulbs can be as simple as digging an 5″ deep trench/hole, dropping the bulb in and covering it with dirt. With a little extra TLC, though, you can make Gladiolus a top showcase in your garden.
Here’s a couple of tips to help you get the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to growing Gladiolus:
7 Tips for Growing Gladiolus
1. Plant them 3″ apart, but plant them in clusters. When you did your trench or hole, dig it long/big enough to get several bulbs in the area {like at least 10}. That will give you a clustered appearance while still giving the gladiolus plenty of space to thrive.
2. Continuously sow gladiolus bulbs from now to mid-July. That way, you will have continuous blooms throughout the summer.
3. If you want to help your gladiolus along, add a little fertilizer to the bottom of the trench/hole. Mix the fertilizer in with the soil, so it’s not too strong, and then drop the bulbs in and cover them with soil.
4. If you live in a windy area, stake your gladiolus so that they don’t break off. Gladiolus get anywhere from 2′-6′ tall, so the wind can snap them pretty easily.
5. In most areas, you’ll want to dig up your gladiolus and store them in the winter. Dig them up, brush off the dirt, trim back the leaves to within an inch of the bulb {technically called corms}, and then let it dry out completely for about a week. Store the dried bulb in a shoe box of sawdust, peat moss or sand in a cool dark place.
You’ll be able to replant them again in Spring. {If you live in an area with a mild winter, you may be able to get away with leaving them in the ground and mulching them.}
But wait, there’s more…
6. While gladiolus like well drained soil, make sure to water them regularly {let them dry out completely in between waterings}, and definitely water them in really well after you’ve planted them.
7. Gladiolus do well in pots too. Plus, you can just move the entire pot into a shed or garage after the growing season and you’ll have flowers again next year.
Do you grow gladiolus? What is your favorite variety?
~Mavis
Kristina says
Do you dig them up in the fall or are you lucky enough to live in a zone where they can overwinter in the ground? I need to dig them up, which never actually happens. I still need to decide if I will plant any this year.
Mavis Butterfield says
Luckily ours overwinter here in the PNW.
Madam Chow says
Mavis, you’re not helping. I just ordered a bunch of bulbs for fall, plus 8 blueberry bushes, a hops vine, and some currants. Stop this at once! You’re a seed/bulb/plant enabler!
Mavis Butterfield says
I totally admit I am an enabler. I can’t stop planting though…. my 1,000 vinca starts just arrived. 🙂 We are going to be so buff by the end of summer Madam Chow. 🙂
Madam Chow says
I hope so! 🙂
alexander h guerra jr says
How long can u leave them in a pot
Veni says
I thoroughly enjoyed cutting gladiolus last summer. I had a problem with something eating all the emerging leaves last year, but they are growing strong this year. They multiply fast. I have the pink, red and a multi colored variety. They are breath taking
Katrina says
I have never dug them up and I’m in zone 6a (Michigan). I’ve never heard of having to dig them up!
Becca says
I live in ns Canada and planted glads in the garden last year and they survived the winter and grew back again this year.
Claire Grant -Sieverding says
My mother in law plants hers’ in spring of course some yrs more pink bloom, followed by various yellows and red. What makes the bulb bloom different color each yr? I know 1 yr I bought blue they came up and bloomed blue, 2nd yr. they were all orange blooms. Can/will you explain this?
anon says
Do you visit your MIL very often? If you visit at different times in the summer, different bulbs might be blooming at that time. Certain flowers can change tint with soil acidity, other types the blooms change color as they mature, but it is not a thing that the same flower plants would have radically different colors each year.
Emily E. says
Glads are one of my favorites too! I have some that I have left in the ground through all the seasons and more recently have dug and stored them through the winter. Here in Ohio, they usually need dug, but I’ve gotten lucky with some. They are just so striking and I also enjoy using them in bouquets. I think a glad only bouquet is so striking and they remind me of orchids. So glad they are getting away from being known as “funeral flowers”.
Deb says
It’s raining… November in Indiana, do I need to dig up my gladolia bulbs before freezing temperatures? Help I need to know ASAP!
Mavis Butterfield says
Since it snows quite a but in Indiana I’d say to dig them up.
Dig them up, brush off the dirt, trim back the leaves to within an inch of the bulb {technically called corms}, and then let it dry out completely for about a week. Store the dried bulb in a shoe box of sawdust, peat moss or sand in a cool dark place. You’ll be able to replant them again in Spring.
Deb says
Thank you ahead of time for prompt reply! I can’t dig em up today; yet I will, before the weather changes, if I need to.
Heather says
Mine keep falling over. I have them planted all over the years and the winter over just fine (Michigan) but every year they fall over. Do I need to stake them all up?
Brenda says
I live in Texas and I love glass! I planted some a few years back and for the first 2 years had very nice blooms. Still have nice leaves but they never bloom. What should I do?
Tony says
july 30 I just purchased glad bulbs. I live near Barrie Ont Freezes nov till april …do I plant or store the bulbs/corms
Laura says
I live in Nova Scotia I dig my glads up and replant in the spring
h l boudreaux says
Live in zone 5-50 miles north of Denver Co. Have planted byzantine gladiolus from Old House Gardens-last fall after 60 degree temps, 5-6″ deep. As of today no sprouts have come up. Lauren Springer famous author of Passionate Gardening and others lived about 20 miles north of here and had success with Byzantine gladiolus, the original. Is it too early to expect to see sprouts? My mulch is 2-3″ of 1/2″ rock which has worked wonderfully for all my iris, daylilies and perennials. Also have non-xeric plants which grow well. Normal snow, and corms not in a drip zone with fast draining soil, where water will not accumulate. South exposure, full sun in winter that warms mulch.
Clara Warteman says
I live in Texas (zone 8b) and am wondering if I need to separate the corms or will the extras produce on their own? I wish I could send a picture of my gladiolus; it is a light pink with maroon throat.
Helen Johnson says
I live in NE Alabama and I’m planting mine tomorrow. I’m soaking them today. I just purchased mine from Dollar Tree. I usually buy them and give them as gifts and people show me later how they have grown so these three packs are mine! I will try to update you with their progress.
Mary says
Hi, I bought gladiolus 2 years ago. I planted some in pots and some in my zone 6 garden and they come back every year, this was not supposed to happen. I protect the pot during our long winters. The ones in the garden grow taller than the ones in the pot. Thank you for your help