Welcome
to our
Free Nature Crafts
section.
AllFreeCrafts Blog
Knitting Patterns Crochet Patterns Sewing Patterns
Christmas Crafts Valentine Crafts Easter Crafts Mother's Day Crafts Halloween Crafts Seasonal Crafts
Bath and Body Candle Crafts Craft Ebooks Kid's Crafts Homemade Gifts Gift in a Jar Home Decorations
Recycling Crafts ~ Recycled Light Bulbs Nature Crafts ~ Terra Cotta Crafts Gardening Crafts
SubscribeArchives

Garden Crafts

How to Grow Glads





twit-button (8K)

    All our crafts are free for visitors of All Free Crafts only. Copyright 2002-2009 © Jane Lake All Rights Reserved. Do not copy, re-work or publish our crafts to your blog, group, or web site, by email, or in print, without written permission. Teachers and youth group leaders have special allowances. Please see TOS for details.

    glads (13K)

    How to Grow Glads
    or
    Growing Gladiolus, Gladioli or Gladiolas



    Copyright © 2007 AllFreeCrafts.com

    by Jane Lake

    A glad, by any other name, is a spectacular, showy flower grown extensively in the home garden. Here in rural southwestern Ontario the Mennonites and Amish add long rows of glads to their kitchen gardens. The gladioli are cut in full bloom, in August or September, stacked in a bucket of cool well water, and offered for sale on the honor system at the end of the farm lane. As you drive by, the country road is like a fine art painting splashed by vibrant streaks of color, with bunches of tall stemmed gladioli in vivid reds, yellows and purples, or delicate pastels, decorating the entrance to every farm.

    Growing glads can be a bit tricky in northern climes, where frost dates dictate when to plant the corms and when to pull them up again in the fall - but these gorgeous blooms are well worth the extra attention.

    Stagger your plantings, setting out groups of corms two weeks apart to extend the growing and cutting season of these glorious flowers.

    glad (14K)

    Beginners Guide To Planting Gladiolas



    by Lee Dobbins

    When to Plant

    Planting Gladiolas is a popular gardening project. The beautiful summer bulbs are colorful and brighten up any garden. However, they are not just for gardens, they also work great for a bouquet of flowers for your home or even a gift. Gladiolas require a great deal of care and a keen watchful eye.

    gladcorms (19K) Gladiolas thrive when specific conditions are met. They love humidity and warmer regions. They require consistent water and a well-tilled, rich soil. When should you plant gladiolas? Well, it depends on where you live. Check the package of your corm bulb and determine which zone you live in. Typically, when planting gladiolas, you plant the corm bulbs during the spring season, when any threat of frost has passed.

    Gladiolas are extremely sensitive to any type of frost. Therefore, planting should wait until frost has passed and if you live in an area in which frost is a regular occurance, you will need to dig up the bulbs during the fall months, before the first frost, and store them in your home. For warmer, frost-free areas of the world, you can leave your gladiolas in the ground during the winter months.

    glad3 (6K)Where to plant

    You want to make sure that you choose an area of your yard that receives maximum sunlight. Full sun is best, however, if you cannot get away from a partial shade, your gladiolas will still grow. When determining which area of your yard to plant in, make sure the soil is moist, but with good drainage.

    When planting several gladiolas at once, ensure that you leave about four to six inches of space between corm bulbs. The more space you give your plant the bigger your plant will grow, giving you awesome gladiolas during the summer.

    Care and Information

    glad2 (25K)You can expect to start seeing blooms in about three months or less after planting the corms. Your stems may need some support during the growth period, therefore, you may want to consider staking them up to keep them perky and tall.

    Gladiolas come in a variety of colors and you can generally expect blooms between July and September each year. They have an average height of anywhere from forty to sixty inches and are perfect for use in your home, cut flowers, or even as borders around your home or landscape.

    About The Author: Lee Dobbins writes for backyard-garden-and-patio.com where you can learn about gardening and find out more about planting gladiolas.

    Some images courtesy of Wikipedia under Creative Commons Share-a-like License 2.5


    Print this page

    1-10 of 19 Comments
    Heather – Griffith, IN
    Sep 09, 2009 - 18:07

    My glads came up beautiful, but now all of the flowers have died off and in there place there is a pod about the diameter of a quarter. Does anyone know what that is?

    Johnny
    Aug 19, 2009 - 07:17

    Hello,
    You may have a problem with thrip. see the post i left for Ruthann from Indiana. (When it gets approved)

    Ruthann Graeber – N.W. Indiana
    Aug 18, 2009 - 16:57

    My glads seem to be prone to shriveling up (the blooms) only the last 2 yrs. Is there such a thing as thrips that can ruin the blooms?I've never had a problem in the last 20 yrs.!

    Reply to Ruthann Graeber
    Johnny
    Aug 19, 2009 - 07:13

    Yes, thrip can wipe out a whole crop. I had thrip kill foliage on over 400 i had planted 2 yrs ago. I use a product called Seven; i use powder before planting and after cleaning in the fall. During the growing period i use Seven liquid in a bottle that connects to the garden house. Haven't had a problem yet.

    Muriel Hintz – Asheville NC
    Jun 28, 2009 - 00:10

    You may have purchased corms that are too small to produce bloom especially if you purchased "bargain" priced corms.
    This is the way flower catalogs often sell their stock. I have been taken in by this a couple of times and have waited 2 to 3 years for flowers.
    The bulbs are not duds, just leave them alone and they will bloom eventually and increase each year, as they produce baby corms you will get stalks that will not bloom among the blooming stalks.
    I live near the Blue Ridge Parkway and have great glads, I never dig them up unless they get crowded. Good Luck.

    Amanda – Midland, Ontario, Canada
    Jun 21, 2009 - 12:42

    This is the First time I have planted glads (or anything). Since we have very cold winters should I dig them up in the fall and replant in the spring?

    Liz – Middle Tennessee
    Apr 06, 2009 - 09:22

    My glads have been absolutely incredible the past two years. Every year they come back in the spring and quadruple. I have never had to stake them because they stand straight up throughout the entire blooming process. I bought my Glads bulbs at dollar general 2 years ago for $2 and I usually kill everything! :) They seem to be a pretty hardy plant with an amazing flower! Good luck to all of you and your glads.

    Ahmed Jan – Quetta Pakistan
    Jul 16, 2008 - 04:19

    Hi,
    I have been involve in growing Glads since 2007 and wants to grow them with out fertilizers and chemical as Organic so what organic manures i can use and what is life of seeds,what other flowers/vegetables I can grow as intercropping please help me

    Sara – North Carolina piedmont
    Jun 24, 2008 - 23:02

    I planted gladiolas last spring and have never gotten any of them to bloom. The green tall leaves come up last year and this year, but no blooms. They are planted in various full and part shade places around the yard too. Is there anything I can do, or are all the bulbs duds?

    Thanks in advance.

    Reply to Sara
    Terry – NC - foothills
    Jul 17, 2008 - 05:00

    Hi Sara!
    Have you received any comments concerning your problem? I have searched the internet and you are the first person I have found that has the same problem I have experienced with my glads.
    Thanks!

    Leave a Comment



    ?
    ? ?
    ?

    Powered by TalkBack

    Gladioli Growing Tips



  • Plant your first gladiolus corms when the soil is warm enough to plant sweet corn.

  • Plant only plump, clean corms from a reputable supplier. Smaller corms may produce a smaller flower or just leaves and no flower at all.

  • Plant corms three to five inches deep and from four to six inches apart.

  • Mulch lightly around glads, or between rows, to deter weeds.

  • Glads are prone to break in the wind. When blooming begins, hill the soil about six inches up around the stem to help support the heavy flower growth. Staking is also recommended.

  • Lift corms in the fall and break or snip off the stalk as close to the corm as possible. Clean off the corms and rinse with water to remove all the soil. Dry corms for two weeks, then store in mesh or paper bags in a cool, dry place with good air circulation.

  • The North American Gladiolus Council offers excellent advice on the cultivation of glads, plus a beautiful photo gallery and a list of local Gladiolus Societies throughout Canada, America and Britain.













    Related Garden Crafts:

    Fun Garden Plants

    How to Grow Delphiniums

    How to Grow Purple Coneflower

    Starting Seeds Indoors

    Broken Clay Pot Plant Markers




  • Wooden Letters

    craft supplies


    All Free Crafts Home | All Free Crafts Blog |
    Knitting Patterns | Crochet Patterns | Sewing Patterns |
    Candle Making | Gardening | Gift in a Jar | Home Decorating |
    Homemade Gifts |Kid's Crafts | Nature Crafts| Recycling |
    Seasonal | Easter | Halloween | Christmas | Mother's Day | Valentine's Day |
    FAQ | Contact Us |
    Terms of Service | Copyright | Privacy Policy | Legal Disclaimer
    Copyright © 2002 - 2010 All Free Crafts.com All Rights Reserved Worldwide