Gladioli planting and growing

Gladiolus, otherwise it is called fennel, is a perennial tuberous bulb plant that is grown in Europe, Asia and Africa. Some species come from Siberia. Due to the characteristic shape of the leaves, the flowers are called "Gladius", which is translated from Latin as "sword".

Characteristics of gladiolus

The first of the tuber buds sprout leaves. Flat, pointed up, they close, adding stability to the peduncle. The plant blooms on a straight, unbranched stem. From an adult bulb, 2-3 peduncles may appear. The inflorescence is spike-shaped, depending on the variety, one-, two-sided or spiral-shaped. In height, garden gladioli of some varieties can reach 2 m.

The seeds of gladioli ripen in a tricuspid box.

Gladioli: landing on a flowerbed

Popular varieties of gladioli

Over 5000 existing varieties of garden gladioli annually replenished with new varieties. An international classification system provides detailed information about each variety.

According to the diameter of the flowers, gladioli are divided into:

• miniature (up to 6.5 cm);
• small (6.5-9 cm);
• medium - (9-11.5 cm);
• large - (11.5-14 cm);
• giant - (over 14 cm).

To navigate how to plant gladiolus by flowering time, varieties are divided into:

• early (June)
• medium (July),
• late (August - September).

Gladioli can take the form of:

• flat not corrugated;
• corrugated;
• super-corrugated.

The color range of varieties is also very diverse:

• pink and its shades have almost a third of varieties (Innosens, Pink and Spen, Invitate, Rose Spire);
• white (Ave Maria, Apostle Peter, Baltays Rits);
• red (Robin, Melody, Georgette);
• salmon orange (Serafin, Freezel Coral Leys, Airlie Highlight);
• yellow (Leonora, Joyce);
• lilac (Costa, Lavender Masterpis, Vera, Lynn, Elizabeth the Quinn, Imposant);
• purple (Faro, Astro, Magic Flute, Blue River);
• burgundy (Royal Stewart, Dark Brilliance, King De Vid);
• purple (Blue Bird, Blue Ornament);
• smoky brown (Chocolate Girl, Amigo, Satin Grand, Bison, Velvet Night);
• green (Bambi, Green Woodpecker, Green Ice, Peacock Feather, Awakening of Spring);
• Ink blue (Belle de Noir, Violetta).

Mix Flowering

The peculiarity of the color of gladioli gives room for breeding work. There are many varieties that combine not only a smooth gradient of colors, but also contrasting strokes and spots in the throat. Breeders are also looking for a way to create pure blue varieties.

Types of reproduction of gladioli

You can propagate the gladiolus variety you like by sowing tubers, dividing corms, seeds and seedlings.

Seeds

This method is used by breeders to obtain new varieties. Flowers grown from seeds may not inherit varietal traits of the parent plants. Sowing is done at the end of winter in the greenhouse.

How to plant seeds:

1. Seeds are soaked in a solution of sodium humate solution (0.01%) for 2-3 hours.
2. For soil use: sheet humus 2/3, river sand 1/3.
3. With the advent of spring, containers with seedlings are moved to a greenhouse or garden (open ground along with a container).

Tuber buds

By the number of tuber buds produced during the season, varieties also vary. Some form up to hundreds of children or more (Pink Harmony, Fireball), while others by the fall give out only 10-15 (Oscars) tuber buds per year.

The number and size of tubers depends on the conditions:

• temperature condition;
• soil moisture;
• the duration of the growing season.

The early varieties have a large baby, while the later ones are smaller.

On average, tuber buds develop up to three months, coinciding in time with the ripening of seeds. Mature children are well separated from the maternal corm. For planting, they are sorted by size. Large (1-2 cm) can bloom earlier in the summer, and small ones only after three years.

You can quickly propagate the variety by sowing large tubers in a pot or box in early spring. Like seeds, they are taken out into the greenhouse with the arrival of heat or installed in a common garden. As a result, young plants get more time for vegetation and manage to form replacement bulbs. Can be used for germination of children:

• peat-humus pots;
• peat briquettes;
• eggshell.

This method will allow transplanting plants into the soil without damaging the roots.

Seedlings

Gladiolus seedlings can be obtained from the cuttings. To do this, sprouts are selected, not exceeding 15-16 cm, and placed in water for rooting. The resulting planting material is grown in river sand of a large fraction under a film in a greenhouse. The rooted shoot is capable of forming inflorescence and corms of substitution.

The basic rules for growing gladioli

It is not difficult to grow flowers, given the rules of agricultural technology.

Seat selection

Gladiolus needs good lighting, light nutrient soil and protection from the wind.

For planting, choose a place with a slight slope (50 °) to the south of the place, this will allow not to stay in excess moisture and get additional heat to corms.

White Prosperity

When can I plant

You can plant gladioli when the soil warms up to 10 ° C, untreated tuber buds are comfortable and at 5-6 ° C. If planted earlier, corms will not be able to germinate, and if excess moisture is present, they can die. For the Midland, there is a recommendation - to plant gladioli from the last decade of April to the second decade of May. In a flowerpot or container, flowers can be germinated from the end of February.

What depth do beds

If there are a lot of bulbs, then the best advice is to make beds. With a width of 1-1.2 m, it is more convenient to care for the plants. In the length of the beds, it is desirable to arrange from west to east or along the slope. Rows are best planned across the beds. Since gladioli need to be planted in different sizes, this method will allow the flowers to get uniform illumination, the soil between the rows also heats up equally.

Planting depth is determined depending on the size of the tuber:

• large (1 cm and more) are buried by 4-5 cm;
• medium (0.5-2 cm) deepen by 3-4 cm;
• small ones (up to 0.5 cm) are covered with a layer of soil no more than 2-2.5 cm.

The length of the row is also calculated based on the number of tubers:

• 40 pcs. / 1 ​​m large - the distance between the rows is 25-30 cm;
• 70 pcs / 1 m small - the distance between the rows is about 15 cm.

Planting gladiolus bulbs in open ground

Preplant planting of the corm, its cleansing and prophylactic treatment contribute to early germination (up to 1 week) and increase the immunity of the plant.

Preparing bulbs for planting

Before planting gladioli, the bulbs are carefully cleaned, being careful not to damage the emerging sprouts that sprout to planting in early and medium early varieties. Rotten, damaged by a fungus reject and destroy.

A valuable onion can be saved if the damage is slight. Diseased tissues are excised, followed by soaking in a solution of potassium permanganate or dusting with powdered activated carbon.

For the prevention of fungal diseases, planting material is processed:

• potassium permanganate;
• succinic acid;
• humate with sodium.

Planting corms

Preparing the soil for planting

Flowers will feel best in slightly acidic light loamy soil, sandy loamy soil or in structural chernozem. The landing site needs to be prepared in the fall. To do this, dig the soil and make humus, manure. The flower grows well after vegetable crops, siderata herbs and legumes.

Gladiolus Care

Gladioli are responsive to care. Loosening and mulching the soil, weeding weeds, the use of micronutrient fertilizers will allow you to get abundant flowering and healthy planting material.

Watering

Water the plant need abundantly (10-15 l / 1 m²) so that moisture reaches the roots, which lie in a depth of up to 40 cm. Watering the beds every 10 days between rows so that water does not fall on the leaves. After that, it is necessary to loosen the soil so that the crust formed in the heat does not block the roots' access to air.

Weeding

Weed gladioli should be as it overgrows, every 3-4 weeks. In weed-covered plantations, slugs multiply rapidly; the absence of air circulation leads to the development of fungal diseases.

Spraying

To increase the decorativeness of the plant, to stimulate the growth of tuber buds, foliar feeding is carried out every 2-3 weeks. Spray flowers in cloudless, calm weather or in the evening. Given the structure of gladiolus, soap for adhesion is added to the solution and both sides of the sheet are sprayed.

At the same interval, they spray the greens after the appearance of 3-4 leaves, watering the soil with drugs for the prevention of diseases.

Tying method

Garter

To avoid curvature, plants must be tied up immediately upon the extension of peduncles. If planting was done in rows, they are installed along the edges of the plank, a rope is pulled between them, supporting each flower, or a coarse plastic network is installed at a height of about 1 m, directing flower stalks between the cells.

Hilling plants 10 cm high can replace the garter of low gladioli. Perform the procedure with the appearance of 4-5 sheets.

Top dressing

During the growing season, the plant needs top dressing to obtain the necessary substances, micro and macro elements. Types of fertilizers:

• nitrogenous is carried out with the appearance of 2-3 true leaves;
• nitrogen-potassium phosphorus is carried out when 5-6 leaves appear;
• potassium phosphorus is carried out with the appearance of buds on the peduncle.

It is more efficient to introduce mineral substances in liquid form, they are absorbed faster by the root system. Before and after the procedure, the soil must be poured with plain water.

Cutting flowers

Cut flowers better in the early morning or after sunset with the appearance of color at the bottom 1-2 buds, the opening of the first flower, if you plan to transport. Cutting the peduncle, it is necessary to leave at least four leaves, they are necessary for the maturation of corms.

It is necessary to cut off the inflorescence with a sharp knife, being careful not to damage the leaves.

Possible problems in growing

In the process of growing gladioli, the gardener may encounter about 15 types of fungal and viral diseases. More than 55 species of parasites parasitize on a plant. It is impossible to completely get rid of threats; as a preventive measure, proper care and the selection of resistant varieties are recommended.

Velvet Nights

Pests

Common pests that can be found in any country:

• thrips;
• cabbage scoop;
• a bear;
• onion mite;
• wireworm;
• slugs.

Disease

Knowing how to properly care for gladioli in the open ground will avoid most infectious and viral diseases. The reproduction of pathogens occurs under adverse weather and soil conditions. All parts of the plant are attacked by various types of rot:

• Fusarium dry rot;
• sclerotiniosis;
• botritiosis;
• brown heart rot;
• Septoria;
• penicillin rot of corms.

Viral diseases of the flower can destroy a large number of plants due to the speed of spread. Planting and caring for gladioli in the open ground include the prevention of viral and fungal diseases:

• spraying with fungicides during the growing season;
• compliance with storage conditions;
• processing material before planting.

Signs of improper care

Signs of a dysfunctional plant are manifested in its appearance:

• deformation of leaves and peduncle;
• foliage color changes;
• the appearance of spots, bloomed;
• slow growth of plants, some may be difficult to germinate.

Competent care for gladioli will allow for full, friendly flowering. Given the varietal characteristics, it can be extended up to two months. How to do this is described above.