Rules for planting gladioli in open ground in spring

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Gladioli are gorgeous spring-summer flowers that can not only decorate any garden plot, but also form a gorgeous bouquet. To get this plant in full glory, you need to have a clear idea of how you can plant gladioli - it is worth growing them under cover or you can plant them directly in open ground.

How to choose the right plant bulbs

The selection of gladioli has led to the fact that today there are an unimaginable number of colors and shapes of flower petals. It is very important that the planting material is of high quality, since this is the main indicator of the health of the future plant.

Here's what you need to pay attention to:

1. It is worth purchasing bulbs in a specialized store (you can in the online store). But still, just by holding the bulbs in your hand, you can be convinced of their quality, while you can get a "pig in a poke" by mail.
2. Do not take onions that are too flat.
3. See that there is a powerful sprout - mainly that it is one or, in extreme cases, two, but not more.
4. The root tubercles should be clearly visible. Their color is necessarily light. If they are brown, the plant may not grow.
5. The optimal size of the onion itself is from 2 to 4 cm in diameter.
6. The bottom diameter should range from 3 to 7 mm.
7. There should be no damage or signs of illness.

Preparing gladioli bulbs for planting

Before you start planting gladiolus bulbs in the spring directly in open ground, it is necessary to carry out a number of measures to prepare them for this manipulation. Here's what it is recommended to do:

1. Approximately 30 days before planting begins, remove them from the drawer where they have been stored in a cool place.
2. Remove the top layer of scales from them.
3. Assess the vitality of the bulbs.
4. Make sure they are free of signs of illness and damage.
5. Make sure there is a shoot sprout.
6. Make sure that the roots have begun the growth process, in this case, tubercles appear.
7. If there are incomprehensible spots, they can be cut off, and the place should be sprinkled with Fundazol. If it is not at hand, then you can use the usual brilliant green.
8. Then you should take a plastic container, put the bulbs in it in one layer and put in a bright place. But we must remember that they should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
9. Immediately before laying in the ground, treat with a growth stimulator. Means such as Humate or Immunocytophyte are suitable.
10. After that, prepare the composition of antifungal drugs in accordance with the recommendations on the package. Fitosporin or Fundazol are used more often. If these drugs are not at hand, then you can take a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The onions are soaked in it for about 30 minutes.

The best soil for gladioli

Before planting gladioli in open ground in the spring, you need to make sure that optimal conditions are created for them in the chosen area. First of all, this concerns the soil mixture. Not every formulation is suitable for these ornamental plants.

Therefore, if the soil does not meet certain requirements, it can be improved by applying additional fertilizers, both organic and chemical. This is necessary if the soil is poor enough and not nutritious.

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When loams prevail on the site, they can be loosened by adding peat or sand.

What to do if a gladiolus has a broken sprout

Sometimes, with a not very careful action with the nodules, the sprouts break off. But it doesn't matter in such cases:

1. There are additional, so-called spare kidneys. This is especially evident in healthy and strong bulbs.
2. If you create comfortable conditions for gladioli, then they will soon begin to germinate again.
3. If there is still a lot of time before planting, then such a broken off onion is best placed in a cool room.
4. But if a sprout breaks off immediately before planting, then, on the contrary, it is necessary to leave the plant in a warm place with maximum illumination, but not in direct sunlight. This will stimulate the germination of new buds.

How to choose the right period for planting a crop

Experienced gardeners recommend paying attention to the following features of weather conditions and the time period for planting gladioli:

1. In early and warm spring, you can plant the bulbs in open ground at the end of April.
2. When it's cool, this manipulation can be postponed until the first half of May.
3. It is also necessary to take into account the region of residence. In the southern parts of the country, spring comes early enough. In some years it is possible to plant gladioli even in the first half of April. But you need to be sure that night frosts are definitely not expected anymore.
4. You can pay attention to folk tips. It is worth taking a closer look at the birch: if small leaves have already formed on it, then you can plant gladioli in open ground without fear. They are unlikely to be threatened by anything.
5. If possible, you can orient yourself fairly accurately to the temperature of the soil. As soon as it warms up to +10 ° C, you can land. But in this case, it must be taken into account that the bulb is placed at the depth of the shovel bayonet, that is, not less than 12 cm.

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Landing technology

When the optimal conditions are selected, you need to know exactly how to plant gladioli in open ground in the spring. If you are not completely confident in your actions, then you can watch the video for beginners. Everything is set out in sufficient detail here, beginners will not make unforgivable mistakes:

1. Choose a lighted area, but if there is none, a semi-shaded place will do.
2. It is desirable that vegetable crops or ordinary lawn grass grow in this place beforehand.
3. They must be planted in the holes. It should be taken into account that its diameter should be 3 times larger than the size of the nodule itself. The depth of laying the onion into the soil should be approximately 8-9 cm.
4. It is imperative to water all the holes with water before lowering the onion there. It is also recommended to add manure.
5. If the plants that grew in this area before planting gladioli suffered from fungal diseases, then it is advisable to treat the area with Fitosporin a few days before planting.
6. Some people add a small amount of sand to the holes.
7. The planting scheme should take into account that approximately 27 cm must be maintained between the rows of gladioli. But between two adjacent bulbs in the same row, you can change the distance from 15 to 20 cm.
8. And after the moisture is absorbed into the ground, and the bulb is laid in the hole, it is necessary to sprinkle it with earth.
9. The use of mulch will be most effective for the plant, since this layer protects the soil from drying out, and also maintains an increased level of its loosening.

The deeper the planting of the bulb takes place, the more magnificent the flower will be as a result of such planting. In addition, more children will form later.

But at the same time, it is not recommended to deepen by more than 14 cm, since the bulb will simply develop poorly, and the effect in this case will be completely opposite.

Basic rules for plant care

It is not enough just to properly plant gladioli in the open ground in spring, they also need appropriate care. Only in this case will they bloom luxuriantly and profusely. Care should be as follows:

1. Loosen the soil regularly. For this, hilling is also carried out, which, moreover, also greatly facilitates the irrigation process.
2. As soon as the topsoil dries up, it is necessary to water. In a warm and hot period, this manipulation is repeated every 4-6 days. It is advisable to water after the sun has set below the horizon. A plant needs a particularly large amount of moisture when about 3-4 true leaves have formed, since at this moment the inflorescence is laid. If the soil does not have enough liquid, then the flowers will be smaller and paler.
3. It is imperative to remove all growing weeds, otherwise they can suppress the intensive growth of young plants.
4. Plants require regular feeding throughout the growing season. But for each season it will be different. In the early period of growth, it is ammonium nitrate, which provides the proper level of potassium and nitrogen. When the beginning of flowering is noted, complex fertilizers are applied. And at the end of summer - potassium and phosphorus. Without fail, fertilization is combined with abundant watering.

It is difficult to answer unequivocally when and how to plant gladioli in open ground in spring. Much depends on the region where these beautiful plants grow. Taking into account all these subtleties will help you get delicious flowers on your site.

Summarize

For gladioli to really be bright, colorful and large, you must:

1. Pre-treat tubers with growth stimulants and fungicidal preparations.
2. For planting, it is advisable to choose sunny areas for the most vivid flowering.
3. Water constantly so that the flowers are large.
4. Fertilize regularly.