Planting & overwintering gladiolus bulbs
Gladioli are a real eye-catcher in any garden. But when and how best to go about planting gladiolus bulbs, and are they at all hardy?
Gladioli (Gladiolus), or sword lilies, are originally from Africa and the Mediterranean and are most easily grown in the garden by means of bulbs. Due to its high sensitivity to cold, however, some tips for overwintering the gladiolus must be observed in this country so that planting is a success. We give tips and tricks from planting to proper care in winter.
Contents
When to plant gladiolus bulbs?
For the success of gladiolus cultivation, the right planting time is first and foremost decisive. Generally: In very mild regions gladioli can be planted in the ground as early as autumn and remain there through the winter until they sprout in spring. In this country, however, planting at this time is associated with a high risk because frosts in winter cannot be ruled out. Therefore, it is better to always play it safe and plant gladiolus bulbs no earlier than April. In very harsh areas, planting should be done only from May to June, until the Ice Saints have passed.
Planting gladiolus bulbs in the garden
The right location
Due to their exotic origin, gladioli have special requirements for their location in the garden, which you most certainly should take into account. Ideally, when planting the bulbs, place them in a full sun and sheltered from the wind. The soil should not be too loamy, otherwise there is a risk of waterlogging, which can lead to rot in the bulb. Therefore, in very clay and loamy sites, it is worth adding a little sand to the soil.
Planting gladioli: the optimal planting depth
First of all, it is important to put the thicker side of the bulb down, so that new roots can form quickly. The top of the gladiolus bulbs should only protrude slightly from the soil when planted, a planting depth of about 10 to 15 centimetres has proven to be effective.
When planting gladioli, the following points should be noted:
- Time for planting in mild regions in autumn or from April onwards
- In harsh regions, plant from May – June
- Full sun, sheltered from wind
- Permeable soil
- Planting depth: 10 – 15 cm
Overwintering gladioli
In this country, the care of gladioli also includes the proper overwintering of the perennials. To ensure that next year you can again enjoy a rich flowering, you should follow a few tips.
Are gladioli hardy?
Gladioli, due to their warm place of origin, are not among the hardy plants in Central Europe and – except for a few species – they do not tolerate the cold. Even specially hardy gladioli need to be protected from the cold with straw and brushwood.
Planting gladiolus bulbs and digging them up again
Generally speaking, the only method of successful overwintering for most gladiolus species and varieties is to dig up the bulbs in autumn. In the autumn, cut off the wilted foliage of the gladiolus a bit above the bulb and carefully dig it up. First, remove the soil from the bulb and wrap it in paper for a few days to dry. The place of storage for the winter should always be dry and frost-free, but not too warm. Otherwise, if the temperature is too high, the gladiolus may sprout prematurely, while spring is still some way off.
For more tips on caring for gladioli, click here. You can read here how to enjoy your gladiolas in the vase for as long as possible.
