Only if you plant the gladiolus bulbs correctly can the small bulbs develop into strong plants with magnificent flower stalks. The planting depth is also important so that the shoots are not blown over by the first wind.
The deeper the bulb is planted, the more support the plant has
Plant gladioli bulbs
Since gladioli are not hardy, the bulbs are only placed in the ground when no more night frosts are to be expected. The optimal time for planting is around mid-May to June, in mild regions even from the end of April.
When planting, do the following:
- Remove weeds from the soil and loosen it well.
- Work some mature compost and horn shavings (€32.93) into the soil.
- Dig a planting hole.
- If the soil is loamy or clayey, put some sand in the small pit for drainage.
- Place the bulbs in the soil with the growing point (germination point) facing up.
- Cover gladioli bulbs with garden soil.
How deep do you plant?
If gladioli are to bloom very early, you can let the germination point stick out of the ground. However, the onion cannot grow in as well and usually needs additional support to prevent it from tipping over.
The optimal planting depth is twice the bulb diameter. If you do not want to do without early flowering, you can drive the bulbs indoors.
The right planting distance
In order for gladioli to look their best, you should plant them in small groups. However, do not place the bulbs too close together so that the gladioli have enough space to develop. A planting distance of 10 to 15 centimeters is ideal. This depends on the growth height of the gladiolus and is usually noted on the plant packaging.
tips
When buying gladiolus bulbs, make sure that they are large and firm and have not yet sprouted. Since the bulbs have no soil available, they have to use up part of their nutrient supply, grow poorly and often no longer bloom.