Gladiola Flower Bulbs

Healthy Bulbs

• Corms must be healthy to produce plants. Healthy bulbs are firm and not soft or mushy. The husks are smooth and not discolored. After the husk is removed the bulb should not have any dark spots on the surface of the bulb. As the bulbs age the flower production declines. During the first six years, the gladiolus bulbs are the most productive.

Digging, Cleaning and Curing

• Gladiolus bulbs are dug up from the ground four to six weeks after the tops of the plant dieback. The longer the corms stay in the ground is better for developing a healthy corm. After the bulbs are removed from the ground, the bulbs are washed with water to remove the dirt. The first 1/2 inch of the bulb is cut off. The bulbs are left outside in the sun for one to two days when temperatures are mild to start the drying process. After a few days, the bulbs are placed in a dry, but airy location to cure (dry completely) for up to three weeks. Temperatures for curing range between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Storage

• After three weeks of curing the old corms are removed from the base of the bulb. Bulbs need to be kept cool and dry during the winter. Temperatures in the location where the bulbs are stored must be between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. To ensure that the bulbs don't succumb to disease during the storage, sprinkle a garden fungicide on the bulbs. Place the bulbs in an old nylon stocking or a mesh bag.

Planting

• Plant bulbs a month or so before the last frost date, but no later than July. Plant small bulbs 2 to 3 inches deep in the soil. Medium bulbs are planted 3 to 4 inches deep and large bulbs are planted 4 to 6 inches deep in the soil. Space bulbs 2 inches apart to make a lush flower display, unless you are planting the bulbs for show, then the bulbs are planted 6 inches apart.