When should I plant gladiolus bulbs outdoors?
When should I plant gladiolus bulbs outdoors?
Gladiolus bulbs (corms) should be planted after the danger of frost is past. In Iowa, it’s generally safe to begin planting gladioli in early to mid-May. Make successive plantings every 2 weeks for continuous bloom from mid-summer to early fall. Gladiolus corms bloom approximately 8 to 10 weeks after planting. The final planting should be made in early July.
When purchasing gladioli, select corms that are 1½ to 2 inches in diameter. Smaller corms will not bloom as well. Plant the corms 4 to 6 inches deep. Gladioli perform best in well-drained soils in full sun. Planting sites should receive at least 6 hours of direct sun per day.
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Horticulture and Home Pest News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on . The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.