skip to main content

Gardening in the UK

Gladioli

19 years ago

What do I do with my gladioli now the season is over? They are still strikingly upright if not so green and rather tatty. Do I just leave them or can I move them?

I want to do something about the patch they are in.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

garden_nerd
19 years ago
Shouldn't you dig them up and store them? Gladioli (except G. byzantinus) never seem to to turn up the following year in my garden, so I assumed they were not very hardy. Anyway, if the leaves don't look very green anymore you may as well cut them off and tidy them up as they won't be doing any work for the plant.
shrubs_n_bulbs
19 years ago
Drainage, nerd. Gladioli are completely cold hardy in England, but they don't like being waterlogged. Watch out for the modern hybrids, reputed to be less hardy than older ones, although I haven't had one fail yet.

I was just pulling the tops of my Gladioli today. If you pull and the corm comes up with it then they aren't quite ready yet :)
Related Discussions
WANTED: Liatris, Gladiolis available now
Q
Comments (0)
I am in central Nebraska and my local Dollar General just put out their spring bulbs. They have gladiolis and liatris. A bag with 10 liatris bulbs/corms is $2. I know each store has different stock, and I know many of you want specific varieties, but here's a heads up.
...See More
Fuschia/White Gladioli Name Needed
Q
Comments (5)
"Priscilla" is afaik an older hybrid, and I even found it attributed "heirloom" elsewhere. I strongly recommend it, I am in awe not only about its beauty, but also about its general growth characteristica - it stands straight like a (tin) soldier and its leaves are strong, broad swords. Enjoy "my version" this is actually my vey first Gladiolas in my own garden! The whole truth is that I would raise the corms in buckets filled with best substrate, and I even provided protection from rain, so I would obtain the very best performance [note that the corms were rather small, thus the low number of 8 - 12 florets per spike only]: I am just self pollinating every individual flower 1-2 days after it has opened. Does anybody have any experience with raising progeny out of these G.hortulanus hybrids; what can I generally expect?
...See More
plant id? gladiolis?
Q
Comments (1)
Looks like a Typha species, also known as Bulrush or Cat's Tail. It's mainly a wetland plant. Sometimes used in water treatment where you get water run off from urban areasinto natural water courses. It acts as a filtration system for sediments and water contaminants.
...See More
When to plant gladioli bulbs
Q
Comments (5)
I found this in Lois Hole's book: "Tender bulbs will not tolerate frost and overwinter only in cooler climates. In cooler climates, these bulbs must be dug up after light frosts have killed the foliage [...] Bulbs in this group include [...] gladious..." If they are not hardy for this zone, the time to plant them is in the spring. although the cause of your bulbs not growing could be from something else, such as site drainage or bulb quality as you mentioned. I get some of my bulbs from the garden nurseries, some from big box stores, but I always look for the largest firmest bulbs without signs of rot.
...See More
garden_nerd
19 years ago
Hmm, that's odd. I wouldn't have said my garden was waterlogged. Oh well, never mind, I'm not mad about glads, anyway.
mrs_tr3lly5
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks all.

I'll take a look at them tomorrow if the weather is fine enough and leave them out there. Although the garden does get very wet in winter. They are up against a fence and there is enough concrete in it to dry things out rather too well in summer.

They put on a nice enough show and would have be splendid intersown with nasturtiums had I got started in the season earlier enough.

I just caught the hot dry weather and things took a long time to come around.

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Find Yourself in an Epic Garden in the Shade

Feeling hot and tired gardening in the sun? The world of shade gardening beckons you to its cool mystery

DECORATING GUIDES Restyle a Vase or Two for Fall

By Tiffany Carboni

Put a tabletop or shelf in fine autumn form with floral and edible arrangements in perfectly paired containers

GARDENING GUIDES 3 Exotic Flowers From the South African Wild

By CYAN Horticulture

Add an enticing note to a garden border or patio container with these sophisticated and memorable African plants

Sponsored