This flower makes for the perfect focal point in your garden.
The retro look ofgladiolusflowers is popular once again.
The perfumed Abyssinian gladiolus is a rare plant that everyone can enjoy.
In the garden or a vase, gladiolus adds garden-fresh drama.
When done right, fresh-cut flower spikes will last for more than a week in a vase.
All parts of gladiolus are toxic to humans, dogs, cats, and horses.
Most gladiolus corms overwinter in the garden only inZones 810.
However, some cultivars can grow in warmer parts of Zone 7.
Continue planting gladiolus every couple of weeks for a continuous cut-flower harvest.
Call on gladiolus when you need a dramatic focal point in the garden or bold vertical structure.
The sword-shaped foliage and upright flower stalks draw attention.
If you aregrowing gladiolus primarily for cut flowers, plant the corms in rows as you would vegetables.
Row planting makes for easy soil preparation, planting, staking, and harvesting in midsummer.
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Space the glad corms 6 to 8 inches apart.
Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch on the soil surface and water the newly planted corms well.
Leaf stalks will emerge in a couple of weeks.
Harvest bouquets of glads for six weeks or more in summer by staggering the planting of corms.
Plant a group every two weeks in spring.
Stop planting in mid-June to give the plants plenty of time to mature before a damaging freeze in fall.
Gladiolus Care Tips
Light
Gladiolusthrive in full sun.
Soil and Water
Well-drained soilis essential for this plant to thrive.
The ideal temperature range is 50F-75F, but it tolerates up to 100F.
It does not do well in cold weather.
Fertilizer
When planting in spring, amend the soil with compost.
Pruning
Gladiola don’t require pruning.
They are grown as annuals or as cut flowers.
Cut back the remaining foliage for the winter.
Potting and Repotting Gladiolus
Gladiolus is an excellent container plant.
Move it to any part of the garden that needs a pop of color.
Prepare other pots a month apart for continuous color all summer and into fall.
Discard any that are damaged or soft.
Thrips are the main pestof gladiolus.
They feed on the flowers and leaves.
Spray the plants at the first sign of damage with insecticidal soap orneem oil.
How to Propagate Gladiolus
Propagate gladiolus by dividing corms or via harvesting seeds.
Division:Dig up gladiolus corms for storage at the end of the season.
Each corm will have several baby corms called cormlets attached to it.
They will grow a plant the first year but not produce a flower.
Dig them up in the fall and store them over the winter as you do your other gladiolus corms.
Replant them in spring, and they will reach flowering size during the second year.
fire up the casing to remove the seeds.
Store them in a cool, dry place.
In spring, sow one seed each in 4-inch pots filled with potting soil.
Barely cover the seed, water the pot, and cover it with plastic.
When the seed sprouts, remove the plastic and move the pot to a sunny spot.
For the next two years, plant the cormlet outdoors and dig it up to store for winter.
By the third year, it will reach flowering size.
The remainder of the buds will follow in the first bloom’s footsteps.
Immediately plunge the stems in lukewarm water.
Once a harsh frost kills gladiolus foliage, dig up the corms.
Many gardeners choose not to dig and store glads; they purchase new corms each year.
The choice is yours!
The white petals have deep purple centers.
It grows 4 feet tall.
They bloom for an extended timefour weeks!and attract hummingbirds.
They are deer-resistant and grow to 5 feet tall.
These beauties deserve a prime spot in the garden where the pastel flowers grow on stalks 4-5 feet tall.
These tall beauties need to be staked, but they are excellent cut flowers.
Dahlias
Dahlias, grown for their beautiful flowers, come in all colors except the elusive blue.
They bloom nonstop from summer until frost in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Ascut flowers, they last several days, making them excellent for homegrown bouquets.
Peonies
Peonyflowers vary from simple six-petal varieties to those with dramatic ruffled blooms.
North Carolina State University Extension.
