How to prepare gladioli for winter: pruning, digging, and autumn care

Gladioli are beautiful flowers, but they are very delicate and require proper care. They are classified as bulbous. Correct preparing gladioli for winterThis involves digging up the bulbs from the soil, processing them, and storing them until spring. Preparing these flowers for the winter season begins in the summer. The preparation process consists of several steps.

Autumn care for gladioli

Caring for gladioli in autumn includes the following steps:

• flower fertilizing;
• proper watering;
• pruning activities;
• digging up bulbs;
• sorting;
• pest control;
• drying;
• storage.

Fertilizing activities

Gladioli can be prepared for winter by fertilizing them throughout the growing and flowering season. As autumn approaches, gradually stop fertilizing. After the second leaf appears, apply ammonia- or potassium-based saltpeter. Gladioli also respond well to potassium sulfate or a urea solution at a rate of 15 g per 0.5 bucket of warm water. This fertilizer is sufficient for 0.5 m² of planting.

The second stage of fertilizing is carried out after the flower produces its fourth leaf. The same formulas are used, supplemented with micronutrient fertilizer. Micronutrient fertilizers are diluted according to the instructions for use.

The third stage of fertilizing is done after the fifth or sixth leaf appears. The final stage should be carried out when the flowers begin to bud. The soil is treated with nitrophoska at a rate of 25 to 30 grams per bucket of warm water.

The final stage is disinfection of the flower bed using a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Autumn watering

Proper watering of gladioli is important. Autumn care and winter preparation should be accompanied by reduced watering. Flowers require ample watering in the spring, when they are growing foliage and forming buds. In summer, water with warm, settled water at a rate of 10 to 15 liters per plant. In autumn, watering is reduced to once every two weeks. This is necessary to ensure the bulbs develop properly.

Pruning flower stalks

The key during flowering is to remove flower stalks promptly. They are removed before seed pods begin to form. This will ensure the bulbs fully mature. After flowering, the flower stalk is immediately cut off, leaving the foliage. A wilted flower will not spoil the appearance of the flowerbed, and the bulbs will retain their vigor for the coming winter.

In summer, when cutting flowers for bouquets, leave as many leaves as possible. This is necessary for the continued growth and development of gladioli. A month and a half after the last flower is cut, the bulbs will be fully formed and can be dig out of the ground.

Digging up gladiolus bulbs

Digging up the bulbs Dry, sunny weather is best. You need to prepare containers and a storage area. Most often, bulbs are stored:

• in cardboard boxes;
• in cloth bags;
• in wooden boxes.

If you have different flower varieties planted in your garden, you should prepare several separate containers for them. This will help avoid confusion during storage. You can also label each container.

Dig up the bulbs carefully, using a pitchfork or shovel. Push the tool into the ground as far as possible from the flower's root system, leaving a 10-cm gap. After digging up the root, pull the tuber up by the foliage, lift it out of the soil, and shake it lightly.

Sorting process

Carefully sorting the bulbs after digging will help properly prepare gladioli for winter. First, set aside and discard any damaged or spoiled bulbs. Tiny bulblets may remain attached to the soil clumps and should be preserved. Any stems remaining after digging the bulbs should be trimmed back to 2-5 cm.

• dense, healthy, without signs of disease;
• the best material is round bulbs;
• maximum age of the material is 4 years;
• Small bulbs should not have any damage on the scales.

If you come across bulbs with flat bottoms while sorting, discard them immediately.

Disinfection and pest control

Once the sorting process is complete, the bulbs are thoroughly cleaned of soil and disinfected. First, they are washed in warm, soapy water, then placed in a potassium permanganate solution. The bulbs are soaked in the solution for 30 to 40 minutes, at a concentration of 1-2%.

Several products can also be used for disinfection. One ampoule of "Maxim" is dissolved in 2 liters of water; the treatment time is 30 minutes. One ampoule of "Decis" is dissolved in 5 liters of water; the treatment time for a batch of material is 40 minutes. The bulbs are soaked in a "Fundazol" solution for 30 minutes, after which they are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or boric acid.

There's another treatment option. It's carried out sequentially, using two solutions. First, 20 grams of chlorophos is dissolved in a large bucket of water and the bulbs are soaked there for 20 minutes. In another bucket, 10 grams of potassium permanganate are dissolved and the bulbs are placed there immediately after the chlorophos treatment. The soaking time is also 20 minutes. After double disinfection, the bulbs are placed in water heated to 50°C (122°F) and soaked for 15-20 minutes. Some gardeners recommend soaking the bulbs in cold water to rinse off any remaining disinfectant.

Drying

Prepared gladioli need to be dried to prevent rot. First, the material is dried at 28-30°C for 7 days. After this, another drying stage is carried out at 20°C for 30 days. Ensure adequate air circulation by arranging the bulbs so that they do not touch each other. Before drying, the material is covered with gauze.

If the room temperature cannot be controlled, the material will need to dry for about two months. After drying, each mature bulb is peeled. Little "kids" Do not peel them: they cannot be left without their outer scales.

Storing gladiolus bulbs

All that remains is to properly arrange the material in containers and store it until spring. All containers must be dry and well ventilated. In cardboard boxes, the material is laid out in a single layer, preventing the bulbs from touching each other. After laying them out, they are covered with paper.

Paper bags are suitable for storing small "babies." Paper containers will also need to be opened for ventilation. Synthetic vegetable nets are suitable for storing larger tubers. The advantage of nets is that they allow air to constantly circulate through the material.

Store the planting material in a cool, dry place, with a temperature between 5 and 8°C (41 to 46°F), and humidity no higher than 70%. Regularly inspect the tubers during storage, sort them, and remove any damaged ones. During the second half of January, monitor the room temperature. Ideally, keep it 2-3°C (2-3°F) lower to prevent the bulbs from sprouting.

The ideal place to store tubers is a cellar. The air temperature in the cellar is always stable (3-7°C), with 60% humidity. If you have a cellar, you can purchase mesh boxes in advance, place the tubers in them, and stack the boxes one on top of the other. Keep the bulbs away from fruits and vegetables, as moisture often accumulates on fruits and vegetables, which can cause the tubers to rot.

Gladiolus bulbs can be stored in city apartments. The temperature should be between 8-10°C. Most commonly, planting material is stored:

• on the glazed loggia;
• in the hallway;
• on the windowsill;
• in the common corridor.

The tubers are wrapped in three layers of old newspapers and inspected regularly.

The refrigerator is considered one of the best places to store bulbs, especially if it's roomy and tall. The refrigerator's humidity and temperature are ideal for preserving the planting material until spring.

The bulbs can be stored in a compartment used for storing greens. Vegetable containers work well. Wrap each bulb in two layers of newspaper.

Caring for gladioli in autumn in different regions

Gladioli care depends on the climate in different regions. They should be dug up before the ground freezes completely to prevent them from freezing along with it. Don't rush either. If you dig up the gladioli too early, they won't ripen and won't germinate.

In the north, tubers are dug up in early October, and in the south, closer to mid-October. In Crimea and the Krasnodar Krai, frost-hardy flower varieties are not dug up but grown as perennials. They are protected from the cold with spruce branches.

Some tips for flower growers

Here are some helpful tips to help you preserve your planting material until spring:

• Before storing, you can soak the tubers in warm paraffin wax and then cool them in cool water. This will help them retain moisture and prevent contamination by fungal spores;
• each tuber must be wrapped in a sheet of paper and only then placed in a box;
• You can add a few cloves of garlic to the box or sprinkle the material with ash. This will prevent it from drying out and mold from forming.
• Don't try to save all the tubers indiscriminately. Weak and empty bulbs won't germinate, but will rot and infect the healthy material.
• When labeling containers, indicate the variety and color of the gladiolus. Fresh tubers vary from one another, but during the drying process they will become uniform and can only be distinguished by their labeling.
• By spring the material dries out, so before planting it should be soaked in water and left for several hours.

Gladioli are wonderful flowers that require careful care. With proper care, they will delight gardeners with their extraordinary beauty year after year.