OK, so Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I am "glad" and thankful for many gardening memories, activities, and plans.
But the "glads" I'm specifically thinking about here are Gladioli, sometimes called Sword Lilies. They're highly hybridized these days, and the ones I usually plant are mixes, so I get a wide range of colors.
For many years, I planted them regularly, but then I lapsed for about a decade. My climate is a little too cold to leave them in the ground. While some might survive, it's not assured. So, to be safe and to gain plenty of plants for the next year, the "corms" must be dug up, stored for the winter, and replanted the following spring. I guess I just got lazy, and then I kind of forgot about the joys of Gladioli...
But the thing is, the process isn't that hard! It's kind of fun! If you start with a hori hori (the tool shown in the first photo and above--one of my favorites), it's easy to plant them in the spring (about five to eight inches deep). And then you can use the same tool to loosen soil around the corms in the fall, gently lift them, and bring them in for the winter.
For the past few years, I've been enthusiastically going through the motions!
In a previous post about Winter 'Bulb' Storage Made Easy, I shared a simple method of storing the Gladiolus corms in mesh bags for the winter (along with suggested storage for other "bulbs").
But before that stage, I simply lay them flat on newspaper or paper towels to dry out and cure. After a couple weeks, they're ready to have their stems and roots clipped, their old corms removed, and then to be stored until planting in April or May.
At the base of each corm, there are lots of little baby "cormels." Aren't they cute?!
But before that stage, I simply lay them flat on newspaper or paper towels to dry out and cure. After a couple weeks, they're ready to have their stems and roots clipped, their old corms removed, and then to be stored until planting in April or May.
At the base of each corm, there are lots of little baby "cormels." Aren't they cute?!
In past years, I've simply composted the cormels, but this year I'm doing a little experiment: Based on my own thoughts and suggestions from Facebook friends (thanks!), I'm saving some of these little babies. Because they can take several years to get big enough to form blooms, some were fed to wildlife in the woods, some have been planted in warm garden spots (maybe they'll survive to bloom in future years?), and some will go into a big planter pot to make it easier to track their progress.
The photo above shows how an old corm from this year produced two new corms and some cormels.
Here's another view of how the cormels form at the base.
It's worth it to go through the digging, curing, storing, and replanting to gain these tall, colorful flower spikes--in the garden and as cut flowers for display.
The photo above shows how an old corm from this year produced two new corms and some cormels.
Here's another view of how the cormels form at the base.
It's worth it to go through the digging, curing, storing, and replanting to gain these tall, colorful flower spikes--in the garden and as cut flowers for display.
Glads are definitely part of my past, present, and future. :)
For excellent descriptions of gardening with Gladioli in cold climates, from start to finish, visit these links:
I completely agree, they are worth the effort. Nothing quite like those sprays of flowers, and yet they don't take up much room. Do you have to mark them to remember where they are?
ReplyDeleteGood point about them not taking up much space! I don't seem to need to mark them because I tend to plant them in a row along the front of the tall flowers in the cutting garden, with Cosmos and Zinnias behind them and shorter bloomers in front. The stems and foliage stay straight and tall with a little support, so I just carefully dig deeply around the stems into the soil, and then wiggle a bit to carefully lift the corms.
DeleteThey are one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI have saved the babies too.
Do you notice over the years of saving them, they seem to only bloom yellow flowers?
I haven't noticed the shift to yellow, although this current mix of corms is only a few years old. I think I had red, peach, white, pink, and yellow this year. I'll have to watch for that shift...interesting!
DeleteI have a dear friend in NY who hates Glads. She says they are funeral flowers. I have numerous Glads planted around the yard/garden. I like them. Some thrive and others fail. I am always glad when they flower. Our climate is such that we can leave them in ground year round.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting Janet. I used to feel the same way about Chrysanthemums and Dahlias--that they were funeral flowers or old-fashioned. I still think they are, but I now really like both, in addition to Gladioli. You're fortunate to be able to keep them in the ground. :)
DeleteI've developed greater interest in glads the past few years. I didn't realize that they have to be dug up in colder climates. Best wishes with your winter preparations.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kris. The thing I really like about the Gladioli is that they add regal structure to any floral arrangement. And it's kind of a fun activity to pull them, store them, and then replant them in the spring. :)
DeleteAlthough I can leave Glads in the ground here, I think that you have convinced me that I need to ask Santa to consider bringing me a hori hori! ;) Allison @frogenddweller.wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteOh, hori horis are wonderful, Allison. They're so useful for so many garden chores--including those that require measuring, digging, light cutting, and much more. The size is perfect for control in the hand, and the tool allows precise activity in the soil. You're fortunate to be able to leave the Glads in the garden. :)
DeleteThis is so interesting! I clearly have loads to learn about bulbs! We usually just leave ours in the ground, but some might benefit from being taken out.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the tiny corms were called cormels. Someone gifted me lily bulbs this year, and they made lots of bulblets, too. It's lovely!
Yes, I think you're right--that even in warmer climates it can make sense sometimes to remove the corms for healthier plants the next year. I only recently learned the name of the baby corms--they are so plentiful and I don't want to simply compost them all. Lucky you to have some new Lilies from a friend!
DeleteYeah, it's probably best to do that, but... no. I haven't even finished cutting back my bearded iris! By now it's not gonna happen, is it?
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa: Yes, there's so much to do in the garden and life this time of year, for sure. I usually let the Glads stand for a while after the first frost so they can dry out a bit before I lift them. But this year the first frost and first freeze happened on the same night, so I had to quickly get out there and pull them before they froze. Good luck!
DeleteI've only this year acquired a Hori Hori and it is vying with my copper trowel for favourite garden tool. Although I do not grow glads, I have found your article interesting and look forward to hearing more about the project.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, it's a great tool, isn't it? I'll keep you posted. I'll store the cormels in pots for the winter and plant them in pots starting in early spring. I'll probably post about how they perform. :)
DeleteHi Beth, I grow Gladiolus byzantinus, callianthus and tristis as their wild, subtle charme suits my style of gardening more that the showier ones. Thankfully I can leave the corms in the ground.
ReplyDeleteHi Annette: You are, indeed, fortunate you can leave them in the ground! I tried some of the smaller, airy species/varieties in the past and they were lovely! I don't think they performed quite as well for me here in my climate (we have great temperature extremes from 32C+ in summer to -29C in winter). But they are beautiful! I mainly started growing the larger hybrids for display at my church when I was on flower duty years ago. They're very showy and colorful for that purpose, and I continue to practice cut flower arrangements for fun. I think if I was growing them only for the garden, I'd go with the G. byzantinus.
DeleteThank you for the instructions re: saving corms! I've neglected mine as well, but will take them up and try to overwinter them this year.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I just got to thinking it's not really that difficult, it's kind of fun, and the rewards the next season are so great. Good luck!
DeleteThis is so interesting! I have never had glads before so I had no idea about any of this. Very cool!
ReplyDeleteHey Jackie: I'm happy that you found it interesting. The Gladioli are so great to work with, and their care is worth it for the payoff in the summer. :)
DeleteHappy Holidays, Beth!
ReplyDeleteBack at you, Hollis! I hope you had a wonderful, warm Thanksgiving!
DeleteI've always enjoyed gladiolus. Such a cheerful, friendly plant in an amazing variety of colors.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. They're colorful and dramatic in a flower garden, and fabulous for cut flowers!
DeleteI wonder if the "baby cormels" have cross-pollinated and will produce unusual colors? An earlier commenter mentioned hers tended to shift to yellow.
ReplyDeleteJeannie@GetMeToTheCountry