How to plant gladioli bulbs in spring. Planting gladioli and caring for them in the open ground - secrets and secrets of agricultural technology

The duration of their flowering, the size of the peduncle and the decorativeness of the plant itself largely depend on compliance with the rules for planting gladioli. Gladiolus owes its name to the ancient Roman patricians, who grew lush arrows in their gardens 300 years BC. And today these plants decorate dachas and flower beds, delighting parents and children with luxurious bouquets on Knowledge Day.

Before planting gladioli in open ground, you will need to carry out a series of preparatory work, which will ensure successful germination of young shoots. The choice of planting site, caring for the plant after germination and advice from experienced gardeners will also be important.

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Storing and preparing bulbs

The optimal place for storing corms is a moderately humid basement with a temperature of +5 – +9. Here they are placed in boxes with a lattice bottom so that the bulbs are ventilated. On average, once a month, planting material is inspected and spoiled tubers, soft and blackened, are discarded.

It is better to store gladioli in your apartment in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator, wrapped in paper and placing the wrappers in sealed cellophane. Somewhere in the spring, the paper will get wet (the bulbs will begin to release moisture), then they need to be unwrapped, dried for several days, and then re-packed in paper and folded into cellophane. If you leave the bulbs at room temperature, they may germinate in 35-40 days and this will ruin all your storage efforts.

About 20 days before planting, the corms are taken out of storage and taken to a bright place. However, they should not be placed in direct sunlight; the light should be diffused. During the same period, the tubers are peeled, the skin on them should be dense and shiny, spoiled, moldy, soft bulbs are thrown away.

Those that have minor (pinpoint) damage can be treated: you need to remove the damage with a sharp knife, and then treat the cut area with brilliant green. Before planting, a crust will form on it, and the plant will sprout roots well.

The bulbs are disinfected, for this you need a solution of potassium permanganate (2 g per 4 liters of water) or “Fundazol” (0.3% aqueous solution). Planting material is soaked in it immediately before planting for 1 hour. You can do it 2 days before, then you need to soak it for 8 hours, and then remove the tubers, rinse and dry. Before planting, the bulb must have a bud of at least 3 mm or a sprout from 1 to 10 cm.

Type of bulb ready for planting in open ground



Disembarkation dates

For beginner gardeners, it is worth clarifying that the average time for planting gladioli is the end of April and until the beginning of June (for central Russia). But here it is very important to follow the following rules:

1. 1. There should be no frost in the morning.
2. 2. The soil at a depth of 10–15 cm should warm up to +10.

Failure to follow these rules will cause late flowering or the plants will not bloom at all.

If planting dates are observed, early varieties will shoot out flower stalks at the beginning of August, and late varieties at the end of September.

If we consider in detail the timing for other regions, then for the Urals they will shift to mid-May; during the same period, early varieties should be planted in the Moscow region.

In Siberia and the Leningrad region, it is advisable to plant plants as seedlings. This will allow you to get flower stalks before the onset of frost.

To achieve earlier flowering, you can warm the soil with warm water, but then after planting you will have to mulch the area well with humus. If there is a threat of frost, it needs to be smoked; the seedlings may need to be covered with agrofibre for the first time. However, only those gardeners who have already grown these flowers on their site should plant gladioli in this way, and it is better for beginners to use the standard scheme.

In order to continue the flowering period of plants, you can use the following recommendations:

• Plant varieties with different flowering times.
• Plant one variety at intervals of 10–15 days twice or thrice.
• Plant bulbs of different sizes, but be sure to follow the planting sequence.



Before winter

It is possible to plant gladioli planting material before winter only if it is possible to provide it with a soil temperature of at least +2 in winter. When the soil cools below -2, gladioli bulbs die.

If you really want to get flowers ahead of schedule, you can use a pot (3–5 liters), planting the bulbs in compliance with all the rules for planting in it and placing it on an insulated balcony for the first time. However, after germination, you will have to provide it with temperature and light conditions, and this is not easy. After the threat of frost has passed, the pot can be taken outside and the green skewer can be used to beautifully decorate the flowerbed.



Growing gladioli seedlings

This method is used if flower stalks are needed much ahead of time. It is also suitable for the northern regions, since summer is very short here, and frosts from spring last a long time. For this, first (a month and a half before planting in the ground), the bulbs are planted in sawdust. Sprout the planting material on the windowsill (by illuminating the plants artificially).

After the skewer has risen 10–15 cm, it is transplanted into cups (0.5 l), for which special soil for planting flowers is used. Before planting seedlings, the soil in containers should be watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Then the roots are placed in the ground, but the neck of the peduncle is covered only with wet sawdust. Then they grow again on the windowsill.

They are planted in a permanent place of growth in the country, cutting the cups, only after the soil warms up above +10.

Site selection

For growing gladioli, choosing the right site is very important. In the northern regions, this must be a well-lit bed without drafts. In the middle zone, you can plant gladioli in shaded areas, but if shaded from the south they will bloom 10–15 days later, and if shaded from the east at least a week.

In hot southern regions, gladioli can be planted in light shade. This will save them from the midday heat.

Optimal soil acidity is pH 6.5–6.8. Composition: black soil or well-fertilized loamy soil, sandy loam. Gladioli do not like a lot of moisture; water should not linger in the area.

Plants are not planted after tuberous and asters.

Soil preparation

Soil preparation can be carried out in the fall, if the bed for gladioli has already been determined, or in the spring, immediately before planting the tubers. If the earth is dug up in the fall, then phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are applied. At this time, the soil is buried deeper in order to retain moisture.

In the spring, the soil is cultivated to a depth of 18–20 cm. After which it is leveled with a rake, and then grooves or holes are made. Fertilizers are applied after germination.

The optimal depth will be calculated from the diameter of the bulbs. Experienced gardeners plant them to a depth of 4 plant diameters. For large bulbs, this is 10–15 cm. For medium-sized bulbs, the depth of the hole will be 8–10, and for children - up to 8. The wider the row spacing, the more nutrients the plants will receive. Between large bulbs in a row the distance should exceed 20 cm, and between rows from 25. For smaller planting material, the distance can be made smaller.

There is no need to plant plants too deep; this will prevent you from getting strong plants and abundant flowering. If you plant the bulbs shallowly, the skewer will not be so strong, and so that the flower stalks do not fall, they will have to be tied up.

It is worth planting large, medium bulbs and children separately. Large plants will take away nutrients from smaller ones - they may not bloom.

Process

Having made the holes, place 2 cm of river sand or sphagnum moss on their bottom. And the bulbs are already laid out on this pillow. Then the planting material is sprinkled with loose soil on top and watered generously with warm water.

If groundwater comes close to the surface, it would be right to make beds, but they are absolutely not suitable in hot climates (the flower stalks will dry out).

For watering, it is good to dig furrows (up to 5 cm) between the rows. It is carried out once a week, but generously (10 liters per m2). After shoots appear, the soil is mulched with humus.

Most often used for cutting. This is a genus of corms belonging to the iris family. There are approximately 200 species and over 5 thousand varieties. And the flower comes from Africa, the Mediterranean, Central Europe and Asia. We will discuss in detail below how to plant gladioli in spring in our latitudes.

Selection of corms

Despite the fact that gladioli can be planted in three ways: seeds, tubers and corms, It is the latter method that is the most convenient. Successful planting of flowers depends on the correct choice of tubers.

To begin with, each bulb must be carefully examined and damaged, diseased, rotten, moldy, or with suspicious spots must be eliminated. Pay attention to the size of the bulb and its bottom. If it is too small, this indicates that the tuber is not yet ripe.

The bulb must be at least 5–7 cm in size. The larger it is, the better.

Did you know? Gladiolus got its name from the Latin word gladius, which translates as sword. The flower was probably named this way because it has leaves shaped like a sword. It is also popularly called fudge.

The best time to plant in open ground

The best time for planting gladioli in the spring in the open will be the period from late April to early May. The main thing is that the soil warms up 8–10 cm deep to at least +8 °C. It is advisable to follow this recommendation, since planting the bulbs at a lower temperature will lead to the development of the root system being slow and it will not be able to provide normal nutrition to the above-ground part of the plant.

Do I need to germinate bulbs and how to do it?

Sprouting bulbs before planting is a desirable procedure, but not mandatory. Sprouted tubers are characterized by rapid growth and better flowering.

The germination time of corms depends on the climate that prevails in the area where they are planted. So, in the middle zone this can be done from the beginning of March.

The bulbs are placed in a warm place where sunlight does not penetrate.

Two days before planting, the tubers should be spread out on a damp cloth for germination. This will allow you to place bulbs that already have small roots in the soil.

How to plant gladioli correctly

• choosing a location in accordance with the lighting preferences of the plant;
• preparing the soil for planting.

Since gladioli come from hot Africa and the warm Mediterranean, they light- and heat-loving. Therefore, when looking for a place to plant, you need to choose a well-lit area that does not receive shadows from other taller crops.

Important! Gladioli planted in shade or partial shade may experience a lack of flowering. This is especially true for late varieties.

If possible, the bed should be oriented in the direction from east to west. In addition, the planting site must be securely sheltered from drafts and located at an elevation, since the plant will not grow if groundwater is close to it.

Flowers love fertile soil. Sandy or loamy light soil will be ideal for planting. In the absence of one, it will need to be prepared in advance. In heavy soils with a large admixture of clay or flowers will not grow. They will also refuse to live in acidic soil, since they prefer a slightly acidic reaction, which is close to neutral (pH = 6.5–6.8). To reduce acidity, you need to add lime, egg shells or dolomite flour to the soil when digging. 150–200 g per square meter will be enough.

If the soil contains an excessive amount of clay, then it should be diluted with sand, and during autumn digging, add lime and fresh humus can be added, but it is not advisable, since this can provoke excessive foliage growth and poor flowering. Clay with humus and rotted soil is added to sandy soil.

In the spring, before planting flowers, the soil must be fed with the necessary elements for normal growth and development of the plant: phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. They add to it:

• (15 g / 1 sq. m);
• (15 g / 1 sq. m);
• potassium sulfate (30 g / 1 sq. m).

It is also advisable to feed the soil before planting.

Important!It is not recommended to place gladioli in the same place for three years in a row. This will increase the risk of development. After two years, the place should be changed. Also, there is no need to plant flowers in an area where they previously grew, which have common fungal diseases with gladiolus.

You need to make holes in the ground. Their size will depend on the size of the bulbs. The holes should be equal to four diameters of the planting material. So, the largest bulbs will need to be deepened by approximately 10–15 cm, small ones - by 8–10.

There is no need to deepen the tubers too much, since in this case they will bloom later and produce fewer children. If you plant them not too deep, then tying the shoots will be added to the care activities. Also, shallowly planted bulbs are more likely to suffer from diseases.

The spaces between the holes are also made depending on the size of the tubers. The larger they are, the larger the gaps should be. However, in any case, the holes do not need to be located closer than 10 cm from each other. The row spacing should be 20–25 cm.

Gladioli can be planted in another way - in a continuous ditch. In the recess, the bulbs are also laid out depending on their diameter and at a distance of 10–20 cm from each other.

Before planting material is placed in the holes, the soil must be well watered. It is also advisable to treat with the drug “Fitosporin”. Place drainage at the bottom: river sand or a 2 cm layer.

Tubers need to be cleared of covering scales. If slightly rotten areas have formed, they need to be cut off with a sharp knife.

You can also place the bulbs in a garlic solution for two hours. It is prepared from five to six cloves, which are filled with hot water. To disinfect the bulbs, immediately before planting they are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. It is prepared from 0.5 g of potassium permanganate dissolved in a liter of warm water. The bulbs are kept in it for 30 minutes.

For those who prefer to work with chemicals, planting material can be treated in a solution of the drug before planting

Gladioli... These majestic, beautiful and bright flowers not only transform, but also completely change the atmosphere around, making it light and cheerful. Many summer residents strive to grow gladioli. Flowers adapt well to any conditions, are not demanding in care and bloom for a long time. But what to do if you didn’t have time to plant the plant in the spring? There is an exit! Planting gladioli in the fall in the ground - this is an excellent option for obtaining healthy and hardened flowers in the coming season. What needs to be taken into account when planting and how to properly divide the tubers of the plant? The answers to these questions can be found in this article.

Planting gladioli in the ground in autumn

Planting gladioli in the fall - where to start?

In order for the flower to take root and sprout in the spring, it is important to properly divide the planting material. Gladioli corms, especially large ones, often produce not only one main bud, the central one, but several lateral buds. That is, from one bulb two or more develop. This phenomenon is not common, and it is not characteristic of all varieties of gladioli; this quality is mainly characteristic of new varieties. But since it still takes place, it would be a sin not to use it for the accelerated propagation of new, especially valuable varieties.

How to get more planting material to grow beautiful flowers? Today, various methods are used to increase the number of kidneys. This can be cutting out or pinching the main bud, planting the bulb sideways, and sometimes “upside down” - with the bottom of the bulb facing up. This greatly contributes to the appearance and development of lateral buds, although not all of them are able to grow. To do this, you need to cut the corm, and on each piece after cutting there should be one dormant or ready to awaken bud. It is also important that each piece has at least a tiny part of the bottom, in addition it needs to be treated with a solution that stimulates root formation.

Planting gladioli in open ground begins by observing the following rules:

• Corms are cut about a week before planting. Small onions are cut into 3 or 4 parts, larger ones - into 8-10, and the largest ones can be divided into 10 or 15 parts - strictly in accordance with the number of buds present.
• Each bulb is carefully inspected to identify defects. If, while cutting an onion, it turns out that it is sick - there are signs of viral or fungal infection, it must be immediately destroyed, and the tools must be thoroughly disinfected.
• All parts of the corms resulting from cutting are treated either with brilliant green or sprinkled with crushed charcoal - charcoal or activated. Next, all parts are dried in a warm room with good ventilation. These procedures protect parts of the bulbs from rotting and do not allow the healing process of the cuts to drag on.

Planting gladiolus bulbs is not an easy task because the plant needs to fulfill certain requirements. First you need to choose a suitable location. The plant does not like shade, so it is better to give preference to sunny areas with an abundance of ultraviolet rays. The planting material of corms is planted strictly vertically in well-loosened, light soil. It is best if it is nutritious, well-prepared soil with a high content of nutrients, peat and compost. The planting depth should not exceed five centimeters. The planting material is sprinkled with a thin layer of peat on top; this measure will prevent the buds from drying out. Planting work ends with watering.

Humidity and looseness of the soil, for the first weeks after planting, are a subject of special attention. Moisture and air access to the cuttings are an indispensable condition, without which it is difficult to succeed in growing gladioli from cut bulbs. Typically, gladioli grown from cut corms begin flowering a week or two later than those grown in the usual way.

So, planting gladioli in the fall in the ground- a simple matter that even novice summer residents can do. We hope that our tips will be useful to you.

Gladiolus is a majestic flower that always attracts the eye. In its beauty and solemnity it is not inferior to the rose - the queen of the garden. In Ancient Greece, the cultivation of this flower for decorative purposes was viewed with skepticism. It was even considered a weed. But after some time, gladiolus took the most worthy places in the gardens of Greece and Rome. Nowadays, every gardener dreams of growing this amazing flower. It is very difficult to confuse gladiolus with any other flower. And many children and parents associate the time of its flowering with the beginning of a new school year, when hundreds of first-graders proudly carry beautiful bouquets of these fragrant flowers in their hands. In this article we will talk about when to plant gladioli in the spring, how to preserve gladioli until spring, how to care for gladioli and much more.

In addition to its exotic appearance, the flower has many beautiful stories. For example, few people know that in the times of Ancient Greece, the flower was not valued at all for its beauty. It was considered a weed and was even gotten rid of. Gladiolus tubers were also eaten. They could be baked or ground, or used as flour. Gladiolus acquired decorative value in Ancient Rome. The name of the flower means “sword” in Latin. This can easily be explained by the oblong shape of the leaves. In Russian you can often find the name “skewer”. Features of the appearance and structure of gladiolus are: Gladiolus is native to some areas of Africa, the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia, Western Siberia; gladiolus belongs to the Iris family; Currently, more than 250 species of gladioli are known; the gladiolus bulb is renewed annually and has a round shape; The stem of gladiolus is straight and single. The leaves give strength to the stem. Depending on the variety or species, the height of gladiolus stems can reach up to 150 cm; Gladiolus leaves can have a green tint or even blue. The shape of the leaves resembles a sword; flowers can be of different colors and shades. Consist of 6 funnel-shaped petals. Flowers are collected in inflorescences that can reach a length of up to 80 cm; Although gladioli bulbs are perennial, they are dug up for the winter. Gladiolus. Kinds If you look at the catalog with photographs of gladioli, your eyes will simply run wild from the abundance of colors and shapes. It’s simply impossible not to want to have such beauty in your flower garden. Currently, more than 250 species of gladioli are known. Gladiolus Byzantine The species grows in Asia and the Mediterranean. In the wild, gladioli can be found in forests, meadows, and clearings. Beautiful purple-red flowers bloom in summer. Cultivated gladioli have flowers that are slightly larger in diameter than in nature. The sword-shaped leaves can reach a length of 35 cm. Gladiolus usually has 3 leaves. The flowers are collected in inflorescences about 20 cm long, 5-9 pieces each. The bulb of Byzantine gladioli is brown in color and has a diameter of 1.5-2 cm. Gladiolus Kochi Transcaucasia, Iran and Afghanistan are considered the homeland of Kochi gladioli. The flowers have a beautiful color from soft purple to dark purple and purple. They are collected in a one-sided inflorescence of 4-6 pieces, which is located on a fairly thin stem. The plant is not tall. Gladioli grow on average up to 60 cm in height. The bulb is about 2 cm in diameter. Flowers bloom in spring. Gladiolus vulgaris Common gladiolus grows in the meadows of the Mediterranean, Western Asia, Iran, Crimea, and the Caucasus. The flowers have the shape of a narrow funnel, collected in one-sided inflorescences of 4-11 pieces. The length of the inflorescence itself is about 20 cm. The color is light purple. The plant reaches quite impressive sizes - up to 100 cm. It is an excellent option for gardening. Gladiolus imbricata This species can be found in Europe, Asia, the Mediterranean, and Crimea. It grows mainly among bushes and meadows. Flowers of a beautiful purple color are collected in very lush inflorescences. The inflorescences, although lush, are short. In the wild, imbricated gladiolus reaches 50 cm in height, and cultivated varieties reach up to 80 cm. A distinctive feature of this species is its winter hardiness. Flowers bloom around the beginning of summer. Introduced into culture since the 1600s. Gladiolus swamp In nature, marsh gladiolus grows in the wetlands of Central Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula, and in Belarus. The flowers are dark purple in color and are collected in several one-sided inflorescences. The stem is thin. The leaves are narrow and long. Gladiolus blooms in summer. It is recommended to plant in the fall and cover for the winter. A distinctive feature of this species is the more protected bulb. Its shell is rougher and more fibrous. Often used to create a beautiful landscape of the coastal zone of reservoirs and ponds. Gladiolus sativus Traditional places for the growth of gladiolus sativus are considered to be dry areas of Southern and Central Europe, Transcaucasia, Crimea, and Mountainous Turkmenistan. The stem can reach a height of 80 cm. The flowers have a funnel-shaped narrow shape. They can be colored from light pink to purple. Other colors can be found in the wild. Blooms in summer. Gladiolus sativa is a winter-hardy species, but in the Northern regions it requires shelter. Gladiolus. Varieties Experienced gardeners undoubtedly have their favorites among gladioli varieties. But, as a rule, they always strive to grow a variety of varieties. It's always interesting to try growing something new. This is the excitement that embraces any connoisseur of flowering plants. Nowadays it is very easy to purchase bulbs of almost any variety. You can even do this using online stores. Small-flowered varieties of gladiolus Small-flowered varieties of gladioli include gladioli with flowers whose size does not exceed 9 cm. The most popular and favorite varieties include the following: Vinte Spot; Ice Fire; Chili Pepper; Spleen Green; Cream De Mint; Laura Maria; Mimi; Focus; Bleriot et al. Medium-flowered varieties of gladiolus Medium-flowered varieties of gladioli include those gladioli whose flower size does not exceed 11.5 cm. The most favorite and popular varieties include: America; Innosenese; Polaris; Gold Dust; Elegy; Mayuba et al. Large-flowered varieties of gladiolus Large-flowered varieties of gladioli amaze with the size of their flowers. Among them you can find truly gigantic flowers that exceed 14 cm in size. Among the popular varieties with large flowers are: Amethyst; Velvet; Oscar; Peacock's eye; Manser; Canada; Berolina et al. Gladiolus. Classification The modern classification of gladioli has certain alphanumeric designations. This information is very important to know if you want to decipher the description of a gladiolus variety when buying it in a store, for example. After all, it’s hard to understand what the designation 556-SP-58-NG means. This is brief information in the form of symbols about the color of the plant, the timing of its flowering, the shape of the edges of the petals, and the size of the flowers. Although, as a rule, the label always provides information about the variety and the form of a regular text description. By flower size Currently, it is customary to divide all gladioli into conditional 5 groups according to flower size: miniature gladioli; small-flowered gladioli; medium-flowered gladioli; large-flowered gladioli; giant gladioli. According to color scale Gladioli are one of those ornamental plants that surprise with their richness and riot of colors and shades. Among them you can find the following colors: white; green; yellow; salmon; red; orange; red; brown; lilac, etc. According to the shape of the petals Gladioli petals can have the following edge shapes: smooth; not very corrugated; corrugated; highly corrugated; very strongly corrugated. By flowering time Of course, gladioli also differ in terms of flowering time. Flowers of the same variety may begin to bloom at different times depending on the climate zone in which the flower grows. Gladioli are conventionally divided into 7 groups: very early; early; mid-early; average; medium late; late; very late. How to plant gladioli in spring. Rules Rule #1. When to plant gladioli in spring Gardeners have different opinions about a more specific time for planting gladioli in the spring. Of course, you need to focus on the flowering period of the gladiolus variety chosen for planting. But you also need to focus on weather conditions. After all, April one year and April the next year can be completely different months in terms of climatic conditions. Gardeners in different climate zones strive to grow this majestic flower. Planting gladioli in the Urals in the spring is also possible. There are 2 most common opinions about the timing of spring planting of gladioli: Gladioli should be planted in the spring as early as possible - in mid-March or early April. With this planting time, you will get fairly early flowering of gladioli. This occurs around the beginning of July. In early spring, the soil is not yet warmed up. sunny days are not so constant and long. You will have to wait a long time for the first shoots. The advantage is that the bulb begins to wake up just at this time. And in the soil, which is still abundantly saturated with moisture, it will begin to actively develop its root system. Although you will wait a long time for germination and flowering, you will get a strong and strong plant with a well-developed root system; Gladioli should be planted a little later in the spring - at the end of April or beginning of May. If you missed the early planting of gladioli in the spring, then what to do? This does not mean that they will bloom much later than those that would have been planted in March. You will see flowers blooming just 7-10 days later. This can be explained by the fact that when planting in April-May, the soil is already well warmed up, and all vegetative processes will proceed faster. When to plant gladioli in the spring and in what month depends on the plant variety and your preferences. Rule #2. Where to plant gladioli in spring When choosing a place to plant gladiolus, follow these recommendations: Gladioli simply love sunny places. When planting in a constantly shaded place, you may not wait for flowering at all. If it’s hard for you to find such a constantly lit place on your site, then just get ready for the fact that prolonged darkness on one side will “slow down” the flowering process for up to 14 days; Gladioli do not like wetlands or areas with high groundwater flow. The bulb may not receive enough oxygen. will not fully develop and may begin to rot. Choose an elevated place to plant gladiolus. Rule #3. Preparing the soil for planting gladioli in spring Before planting gladioli, the soil must be prepared if you want to get the most beautiful and strong flower that will delight you with its flowering for a long time. Experienced gardeners who have been planting ornamental plants, fruit trees and shrubs for a long time know exactly the composition of the soil on their site. If you do not have information about the acidity of the soil and its composition, then you can take soil samples to special agrotechnical laboratories, where they will determine the exact characteristics of the soil. To properly prepare the soil before planting gladioli, follow these tips: you need to start preparing the soil for spring planting of gladioli in the fall; the area chosen for planting gladioli must be dug up to a depth of 50 cm, all weeds and their roots must be removed; Legumes are ideal predecessors for gladioli. They have the ability to improve the soil and rid it of some insects dangerous to gladioli that can live in the soil; In the fall, apply any phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. You can calculate their correct rate in accordance with the soil indicators on your site. If you are a beginner gardener and are afraid of oversaturating the soil, then simply add nitrophoska at the rate of 30 g per 1 sq.m; In the fall, you can also prepare a convenient bed for gladioli, which will make it easier for you to care for your flowers in the future. The selected area can be fenced with pieces of slate, stone slabs, boards; in the spring, the area needs to be dug up again, possible weeds removed, and urea added at the rate of 15 grams per 1 sq.m. Rule #4. Preparing gladioli in spring When to clean gladioli in spring? Approximately 2-3 weeks before planting, you need to remove the bulbs from the basement for a thorough inspection and treatment of gladioli in the spring. In order to understand how to clean gladioli bulbs in the spring, you need to see them at least once. The bulbs are covered with a kind of husk, scales that need to be removed. Harmful microorganisms can accumulate under this shell, which can negatively affect the growth and development of the plant. When cleaning the bulbs, you need to be extremely careful and careful. It is important not to damage the eyes. The baby bulbs also need to be peeled by first gently pressing on them with your fingers. Damaged, rotten bulbs and children should be thrown away. This is unsuitable material for planting. Using regular green paint, you need to treat all small cracks and abrasions on the bulbs. Some gardeners advise placing peeled bulbs in a box with their sprouts facing up for vernalization. This process involves short-term exposure of planting material to low positive temperatures. This will activate the vitality of the bulb and contribute to good and active flowering of the plant in the future. Gladioli bulbs can be disinfected before planting in the spring. This is especially true for those bulbs that you purchased in a store, at the market, or from neighbors. There are many disinfection options. One of the most effective is soaking the bulbs in garlic infusion. It is very simple to prepare such an infusion: take 300 grams of garlic, chop it with a meat grinder, pour in 10 liters of water. The same infusion is prepared for disinfecting tubers after autumn digging. Only the amount of garlic has already been increased to 500-1000 g. Gladioli need to be soaked in the resulting solution for 1.5-2 hours. You can also use a solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 10 l of water), a solution of karbofos (30 g per 10 l of water). Some gardeners force gladioli in the spring at home in the ground. After the bulbs are cleaned and disinfected, they need to be treated with growth stimulants for better rooting. A traditional remedy is heteroauxin, which you need 1 tablet per 10 liters of water. But there are other drugs with similar effects on the bulbs. Preparing gladioli for planting in the spring in Siberia does not have any other recommendations. Rule #5. Planting gladioli in the ground in spring The bulbs are now ready for planting. After soaking in a growth stimulant solution, they can be slightly dried before planting. The landing technology is as follows: Gladioli should not be deepened too much when planting. The recommended depth is about 10 cm. Sand is poured into the bottom of each hole, the bulb is placed with the eye facing up, sprinkled with sand again, and then with soil. The presence of sand in the planting hole will prevent the occurrence of rot. If the bulb's eye is located slightly to the side, then the bulb should be planted at such an angle that the stem grows vertically. Maintain your distance when boarding. Plants planted too close will interfere with each other and may infect each other with diseases, if any appear. When planting large bulbs, the distance should be about 15 cm, and when planting children - about 5 cm. During the planting process, the soil must be watered so that it does not begin to take moisture from the bulbs. But there is no need to plant gladioli in the dirt. Caring for gladioli in spring and summer Watering gladioli in spring and summer To maintain the majesty of this beautiful flower, you need to provide it with proper care. You will be surprised, but it is completely minimal. For the plant to grow fully, you must follow the rules for watering gladioli: Water the gladioli in a timely manner and prevent the soil from drying out; water flowers in dry weather; To ensure proper access of moisture to the roots, it is better to build special furrows between the rows. It is necessary to water in these furrows; watering should be sufficiently plentiful, because... the root system of gladioli lies at a depth of 35 cm; After watering, lightly loosen the soil and mulch. Feeding gladioli in spring and summer Like any ornamental plant, gladiolus responds positively to feeding. It is advisable to carry out 3 feedings during the season: nitrogen fertilizer when the first 2-3 leaves appear; nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer when 5-7 leaves appear; phosphorus-potassium fertilizer when the inflorescences began to form. It is also useful to carry out foliar feeding, which protects the plant from diseases and pests. Spraying gladioli with a solution of boric acid is suitable as such feeding. We protect gladioli in spring and summer from diseases and pests Flowers should be regularly inspected for pests. Slugs simply love to feast on gladioli. Summer residents advise scattering salt around the plants, which will burn insects. There are also special preparations on sale that repel pests (Thunderstorms, Medvetox, Meta). How to preserve gladioli until spring Gladioli delight and delight with their flowering so much that you want to grow this beauty year after year. And this is quite possible if you properly care for the bulbs after summer and provide them with comfortable conditions for wintering. In order to preserve gladioli planting material until next summer, you need: Around the beginning of October, carefully dig up the bulbs; wash off the soil with a garden hose and trim the stems; do not confuse the varieties of gladioli if you have several of them. It is better to prepare boxes with inscriptions and labels in advance; In the house, the bulbs need to be washed again and be sure to be disinfected. An infusion of garlic or potassium permanganate, the recipe for which is described above, is suitable for this; the treated bulbs should be placed in a warm and dry place to dry; after 1 month, gladioli need to be sent “to hibernation”; You can store the bulbs in the winter in the basement or pantry. But you need to make sure that the humidity in these rooms is not too high. In an apartment, bulbs are usually stored on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. They can be placed in boxes lined inside with paper napkins and newspaper, which will prevent the bulbs from rotting. No need to store gladioli in a bag! Now you know everything about how to plant gladioli in the spring so that they bloom, how to care for them, how to germinate gladioli in the spring, etc. Don't be afraid to experiment! Grow different varieties and create delightful flower arrangements in your garden.

Gladiolus, or swordweed, has long been considered one of the most beloved decorations in our flower beds. Although once in Ancient Greece it was considered a weed. In ancient Rome, majestic gladioli with large inflorescences decorated the gardens of the patricians. Among our gardeners, interest in these flowers does not dry up. On the contrary, every novice gardener wants to plant a flower garden with gladioli on their plot, about which we will tell you today about planting and caring for them in the open ground.

How to plant gladioli in spring? Rules, recommendations, advice from experienced gardeners:

• Planting material must be selected carefully, it must be adapted to the climatic conditions of the region. For example, bulbs from Holland, once in Siberia, will feel uncomfortable and will most likely bloom only once.
• It is not recommended to grow gladioli in one place for more than two years. No one has canceled the observance of crop rotation. When replanting garden gladioli flowers, select an area with a different soil composition. If the flowers grew in light alumina, after a couple of years it is worth planting them in sandy loam soils.
• How to plant gladioli correctly? You cannot plant large bulbs and children next to each other. The big ones will constantly oppress them. It is better to plant in order, first small ones, then large ones completely separately.
• Be sure to observe the correct planting depth, which depends on the structure of the soil. If gladioli are planted in heavy soil, the depth should be equal to three times the diameter of the bulb. If the soil is light, the depth should be greater, equal to four diameters. When planting gladioli in open ground too deep, the gladiolus flower may not bloom at all; if planted not deep enough, the shoot will have to be tied up.
• It is necessary to clear the daughter bulb of dense scales five days before planting to facilitate germination. Watering after planting should be every other day.
• Gladioli are light-loving plants. Where and how to plant gladioli? You should not plant them in your flower garden in the shade, as they may not bloom.
• The area where gladioli will grow should be well ventilated, this will help avoid fungal diseases.
• When growing gladioli in sandy loam soil, the leaves of the plant are sprayed with fertilizers.
• In summer, flowers need to be watered generously once a week. If there are hot days without rain, you need to water the plantings every evening, loosen the soil, hill up and remove weeds. This will help combat overheating of the soil.
• An important point in growing gladioli flowers is the storage of corms; the splendor of flowering depends on their preservation.

How to prepare gladioli bulbs for planting

A month before planting, it is necessary to begin preparing planting material. The corms are cleaned of dense scales, being careful not to damage the sprouts. It is necessary to remove partially or completely affected bulbs. You can cut out the lesion if the tuber is slightly affected by scab or sclerotinia. You just need to treat the sore spot with brilliant green. After cleaning, you need to lay out all the tubers in one layer with the sprouts facing up. They are kept in a bright, warm room. This is necessary for the shoot to germinate.

Before planting, it is necessary to treat the planting material with chemicals. To disinfect and prevent infection by fungus and thrips, it is necessary to place the bulbs in a 0.3% solution of Fundazol for an hour and in a solution of potassium permanganate for two hours. If you don’t have enough time, you can take a more saturated solution of potassium permanganate and soak the bulbs in it for half an hour. Then, without rinsing or drying, plant in open ground.

Children of gladioli should also be prepared for planting. 14 days before planting, you need to select buds with a diameter of 7-8 mm with noticeable root tubercles, and remove the hard shell from them. Place them in a single layer in boxes, place them in the light, they should germinate. Sprouted children are kept in a solution of potassium permanganate before planting for 9 hours.

How to grow gladioli

Many people would like to see gladioli on their plot, but growing these delightful flowers requires the gardener to follow certain rules, which are determined by the biological characteristics of the plant. Gladioli love warmth and light, so you need an appropriate area for planting them.

Selection and preparation of a place for planting gladioli

Gladioli in the garden should be given a bright area with well-drained soil and no drafts. When choosing a site, it is necessary to take into account the climatic conditions of the region. The planting site should be very light in the northern regions, because any darkening will delay the growth and flowering of flowers. It is not recommended to plant plants in places with high groundwater accumulation. In the south, landing is possible in places where there is darkness at midday. The site may be slightly sloping to the south to allow water to drain.

An important component is soil acidity. Slightly acidic soil (pH 6.5-6.8) is the best option. If the acidity is higher, the leaves of gladioli will wither and darken, and fusarium will appear. Iron does not dissolve in an alkaline environment, depriving it of access to the roots. The formation of chlorophyll in the leaves of the plant slows down and they turn yellow. To neutralize acidity, eggshells, dolomite flour or chalk are added to the soil. They are added to the soil by digging at the rate of 180 g per square meter.

Planting gladioli in the spring will be most successful if the site had structural black soil or light loam. You can add sand to heavy loam, and clay to sandy soil. Rotted compost and humus are also added there. It is necessary to dig up the soil well before planting if the area warms up well. In areas where there is little moisture, the main digging is carried out in the fall, and before planting the bulbs, the earth is only loosened. It should be taken into account what crops grew in this place. Legumes, vegetables, and perennial herbs will be good predecessors. But asters and root vegetables are not suitable.

In the fall you can make beds; they should be about a meter wide. Potassium and dry phosphorus fertilizers are applied during digging. Potassium sulfate is needed before spring digging. In the fall, digging should be deeper, ten centimeters deeper than in the spring.

Gladioli: planting secrets

When to plant gladioli? Planting is usually done at the end of April. Continues until mid-May. Climatic conditions and weather are taken into account. At what depth to plant gladiolus depends on the size of the bulb. Planting material is sorted before planting; the optimal size of gladioli bulbs is 2-4 cm in diameter.

When to plant gladioli? Small bulbs are planted to a depth of 8-10 cm, large ones need to be buried deeper - up to 15 cm. The distance between the bulbs is 7-8 and 15 cm, respectively. A gap of 23 cm is left between the rows.

How to plant gladioli to get vigorous flowering? The planting bed must be thoroughly watered with a solution, usually Fitosporin or just water. Pour a layer of river sand or sphagnum moss onto the bottom, lay the bulbs on it and dig in. Moss will prevent rot from appearing and the soil from drying out even in extreme heat.

How to care for gladioli

Gladioli must be carefully cared for. As soon as the seedlings become 10 cm in height, it is necessary to mulch the bed with a layer of humus. You should not make it higher than 5 cm; it will already be able to protect the soil from moisture loss, overheating, and additionally feed the bulbs.

Watering gladioli

How to care for gladioli in the garden? Watering is carried out once a week late in the evening or early in the morning. It should be plentiful - 10-12 liters are needed per square meter. Water is poured very generously into the inter-row furrows to a depth of 3-5 cm. It is necessary to prevent water from getting on the leaves of the plants. After each watering, it is necessary to loosen the soil to a depth of about 6 cm. It is loosened, regardless of the presence of precipitation, at least once a decade. In extreme heat, it is necessary to water gladioli once every 3-4 days. Due to lack of moisture, the plant becomes lethargic.

It is necessary to install pegs or supports and tie flower stalks between them so that they do not fall. Dried flowers are removed as needed so that the plant does not waste nutrients on them. Weeding is carried out several times during the summer. It is necessary to ensure that there are not too many weeds. Otherwise, the flowering of gladioli will be in doubt. The risk of diseases and slug infestation also increases with a large number of weeds.

Feeding gladioli

What other care is required for gladioli in the open ground? At different stages of growth, gladioli are fed with mineral fertilizers:

1. Nitrogen fertilizing is carried out when the first 2-3 leaves appear on the plant. Per square meter of soil take 25 g of ammonium nitrate, urea or ammonium sulfate in dry form. Due to a lack of nitrogen, the plant may have pale leaves; if there is too much of it, flowering is delayed, resistance to fungal infections is reduced, providing rich color and vigorous growth.
2. Nitrogen-potassium-phosphorus fertilizing is carried out after the appearance of 5-6 leaves. 10 g of ammonium sulfate and potassium sulfate, 15 g of superphosphate are added to the soil.
3. Potassium-phosphorus fertilizing is needed before the appearance of buds, as soon as the peduncle appears. 15 g of potassium chloride and 30 g of superphosphate help well.

If we talk about organic fertilizers, it is recommended to apply them in liquid form. An infusion of bird droppings is recommended to be used at the beginning of plant growth. Experienced gardeners believe that using horse manure can harm the plant. Feeding of gladioli stops on August 15.

Thus, care and proper pruning of gladioli is very important to grow beautiful flowers. Flowers are cut in the morning or evening with a sharp knife. The remainder of the peduncle should be deeply hidden between the leaves, of which there should be at least four. They must ensure further development of the bulb.

How to store gladioli in winter

Gladioli are dug up in the fall; it is necessary that at least 35 days have passed since flowering. Corms that are ripe have integumentary root scales; the children, covered with dense scales, are easily separated from the mother bulb. In dry weather, early varieties are dug up first, then later ones. Children and small bulbs are dug up at the last moment.

Roots and remaining stems must be trimmed. Place the corms in boxes with a wire rack at the bottom and rinse under running water. Then immerse in a 1% solution of Fundazol, wash again, treat with 3% potassium permanganate, and spread out to dry for three days. After drying, you need to transfer the tubers in one layer into boxes and store at a temperature of 25-30 degrees. You need to turn the bulbs regularly. After half a month, the temperature is lowered to 22°C. After another month, you can clean the bulbs and sort them.

The upper scales are removed from the bulbs, separating the children. Planting gladioli babies in the ground in the spring is done after sorting them by size. Before planting, they are stored in paper bags at a temperature not exceeding 6°C. You can put the babies in the refrigerator. You can also store corms there. In warm climates, the bulbs will do well on a glassed-in loggia.