Gardening: Expert advises on growing climbing plants
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Gladioli reach the end of their flowering season around the end of October when they go dormant until the following summer. While the tall blooms are just as easy to grow as tulips and most other garden bulbs, they will struggle to re-flower without some essential care in autumn. Gardening experts have shared the “most reliable way” to keep gladioli bulbs intact for the next blooming season.
What to do with gladioli bulbs after flowering
Autumn is the best time of year to plant spring bulbs and is also a crucial season for summer-flowering plants.
When it comes to gladiolus, taking care of the delicate bulb-like corms is a top priority to protect non-hardy types from the harsh winter.
While some gardening experts advise lifting the bulbs from the ground entirely, British author and gardener Sarah Raven explained that there is another way to shelter gladioli from the cold.
She said: “It’s always said you need to lift your gladioli, and that like dahlias, they’ll be frosted if left in the ground. I’ve grown them at Perch Hill for years and I’ve never lifted them. Instead, I mulch them deeply.”
The gardening expert explained that just one 5-7cm layer of compost is enough to “give them an insulating duvet over their heads”.
Ideally, this should be done no later than mid to late autumn to protect the flowers before winter arrives.
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Though mulching is much easier than lifting entire flower beds full of bulbs, Sarah noted that some regions are simply too cold to leave gladioli in the ground.
She said: “You should be safe with this in the south of England and the western fringes of the British Isles, but in colder areas, they will need to be lifted and brought undercover.”
According to Elizabeth Fox, bulb expert and grower at The Rose Press Garden, digging the corms up is the “most reliable way” to ensure they are viable for next summer.
All you need to do is cut the stems down to around 8-10cm once they finish flowering and lift the corms from the ground.
Sarah Raven added that for gladioli grown in pots, you should stop watering when the leaves turn yellow before cutting the stems down and digging up the bulbs.
Place the lifted corms into trays to dry and preserve them.
Leave the tray in a cool, dry place for a couple of weeks to remove moisture.
Sarah Raven added that for gladioli grown in pots, you should stop watering when the leaves turn yellow before cutting the stems down and digging up the bulbs.
Place the lifted corms into trays to dry and preserve them.
Leave the tray in a cool, dry place for a couple of weeks to remove moisture.
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