July
2006
By
B. Rosie Lerner
Extension Consumer Horticulturist
Purdue University
|
|
Gladiolus for Summer Flowers
If you're looking for a versatile cut flower that can be easily grown
at home, gladiolus is just the ticket. Gladiolus gets its name from the
Latin word "gladius," meaning sword. Indeed, "glads,"
as they are named for short, do produce their large showy blossoms along
a long pointed stalk. It's hard to beat the wide choice of colors that
glads offer, including red, pink, yellow, white, purple and lavender.
Each flower spike is made up of several florets, which are lined up in
double rows. Taller cultivars will likely need staking to prevent the
weight of the flowers from bending or breaking the stems. Plants usually
stay in bloom up to two weeks, but, if you stagger your plantings through
late spring and early summer, you can have glads in bloom from June through
September.
Glad buds will open beginning at the bottom of the spike first. Cut the
flower spikes after at least three of the florets have opened. The rest
of the florets will open in the next few days as the lower florets fade.
The best time to cut glads is in the early morning or late evening, when
temperatures are coolest and flower stems are full of water. Leave as
much foliage as possible remaining on the plant, so that the corm will
receive food reserves for next year.
Gladiolus are grown from bulb-like structures called corms that must be
dug up and replanted each year, since they are not usually winter hardy
in the Midwest. When foliage begins to turn yellow in fall, dig up the
corms and allow to air dry for several days. Then, pack the corms in a
box of dry vermiculite or peat moss and store in a cool, dry location.
Many garden supply stores run clearance sales on summer flowering bulbs
at this time. You can get some real bargain prices, but keep in mind that
it is pretty late in the year for planting. Depending on the cultivar,
glads take from 60 to 120 days from planting to produce flowers. But,
if the price is right, it may be worth the gamble of hoping for a late
frost this autumn.
7-6-06
|
