When to take out gladioli after winter storage

Gladiolus is a unique plant belonging to the bulbous family. During flowering, it delights gardeners with its delicate and vibrant flowers. Gladiolus blooms from mid-July to mid-August. After this, the bulbs are dug up and stored in a cellar or refrigerator, where they will overwinter until they are ready to be planted again.

 

To ensure that gladiolus bulbs are stored until the next planting, are not affected by disease, and delight gardeners with abundant flowering, you need to follow a number of the following rules:

 

1. Gladiolus won't bloom productively in the same spot two years in a row. After the bulbs have been moved from a cold location to a warm one for germination, it's time to start searching for a suitable planting site.
2. The lifespan of gladiolus bulbs depends on how well they are selected for the climate of the region. For example, heat-loving varieties will die and not survive the winter if they were previously grown in cold climates.
3. Bulbs from adult plants and young plants should not be planted next to each other, as the older plants will not allow the young plants to develop.
4. The depth at which the bulb is planted is crucial. This depends on the soil composition and the bulb's diameter. In light soils, the planting depth should be no less than four times the bulb's diameter, and in heavy soils, no more than three.
5. Before planting, gladioli are scaled. This will allow the plant to more quickly reach the sunlight.
6. Watering of planted gladioli is carried out every other day in the absence of rain.
7. To make the plant less susceptible to disease, it is planted in a sunny, well-ventilated area.
8. Once the gladiolus produces its first flowers, watering should be reduced to once a week and only in the evenings when the weather cools. Watering should be generous. A small amount of water is more harmful to the gladiolus than no water at all.

After the last flowers on the gladioli have faded, you can begin harvesting the bulbs. This usually happens no earlier than the first half of September. To do this, dig up the flower, cut the stem close to the bulb, and place the tuber in a cool, well-ventilated area to dry.

 

Before drying the bulbs, it's a good idea to treat them with antibacterial agents. The most popular among gardeners are Maxim, Fitosporin, and a solution of potassium permanganate.

 

So, the bulbs have been treated for diseases, dried, and stored in a cool place in cardboard boxes for the winter, where they will wait until the next planting. Check for diseased bulbs at least once a month.

When should gladioli be removed from winter storage? Remove gladioli from the refrigerator three weeks before planting. First, remove their scales. This will facilitate the sprouting of the stems, and it will be easier to determine the condition of the overwintered planting material. If diseased specimens are discovered, the affected areas are cut back to healthy tissue, and the cuts are treated with brilliant green or crushed activated charcoal.

 

Before planting, it's helpful to soak the bulbs for 20 minutes in an antibacterial solution and then dry thoroughly. Store the bulbs in a warm place with the sprouts facing up until planting. In a warm room, they will sprout immediately, revealing which bulbs are suitable for planting.

 

Plants can be planted in early May, and they will delight the gardener with their flowering as early as early July.

The flower has an interesting beauty Eremurus, which we suggest you learn about here.