Dates of planting gladioli in open ground and for seedlings
Proud handsome gladioli undertake to grow not all growers, fearing possible difficulties. And completely in vain: if you choose the right planting time, find a suitable place for the plants where they will be comfortable and cozy, and also give them a little attention, then they will not cause any special problems, but to the envy of neighbors they will decorate the flower bed with large bright inflorescences.
One of the important factors on which the further development and, most importantly, the flowering of gladioli depends, is the timely planting. Like all bulbous crops, these plants are demanding on heat and moisture, so you need to accurately determine the timing of planting.
Planting the bulbs too late in the soil, which has already lost most of the moisture, will require more frequent watering, otherwise the tubers will not germinate and the flowering will be delayed. Conversely, early planting is fraught with more serious problems, such as rotting due to excess moisture and unheated soil.
Time to plant gladioli, depends on the way they are grown, namely:
- whether the bulbs will be planted immediately in the garden;
- or they will germinate first (the so-called seedling method).
When to plant gladioli outdoors?
Planting the bulbs directly on the flower bed requires adjustments to suit local climatic conditions. The optimal time for planting gladioli is the presence of well-heated soil (at least 8 degrees Celsius). In different regions, this time falls on different months:
- in the south, in early spring, gladioli can be planted in April, because the soil dries out quickly and then it may be too late;
- in middle latitude, the bulbs should be planted at the end of April (even if there is a nighttime drop in temperature in early May, non-sprouted tubers will calmly transfer it in the ground);
- but in cold northern latitudes, it is necessary to start planting gladioli not earlier than the end of May, or even in June, since late spring and recurrent cold weather are characteristic of these regions.
When to plant bulbs for germination?
Pre-germination allows not only to bring closer the flowering time of gladioli, but also to determine which bulbs are healthy and which will be useless.
For seedlings, tubers can be laid in low bowls already in March, but in regions with a later spring, it is better to wait until April.
Article about preparing gladioli for planting in spring.