Gladiolus bulbs,Plum Tart( Bulbs) Summer flowering, Perennial

Early bloomer! Plant reaches 5 feet and produces huge flower heads of a rich purple. Ideal for cutting and spectacular in the garden. Florets are large, have a velvety texture, and are tightly placed on the stalks. Up to 10 are open simultaneously. We ship 12/14 cm. bulbs that assure big, strong-growing plants and impressive flowers

How to Grow Gladiolus Bulbs:

1. In the Spring, choose a spot that is mostly sunny or has only light shade. Also make sure that drainage is good in the location that you choose. Although gladiolus will grow in lots of types of soil, they don't like being soggy or waterlogged.

2. Planting gladiolus bulbs is fairly simple. Bulbs look much like a small onion, sometimes with a spike or point on one side and sometimes with wiry roots growing out of one. Plant with the spike pointing up.

3. Follow the rule of thumb when planting bulbs and give the bulbs at least 2 times their height of soil above them. Dig a 6-7 inch hole, drop the bulb into it and cover with soil.

4. Regarding the spacing between bulbs, if planting in beds, leave approx 6-8 inches between each bulb. If you are planting in containers, you can cluster them a little closer together.

5. After planting, water well so that the soil above the bulbs settles.

6. If there is no rain, you will need to water the glads. They prefer weekly deep watering rather than more frequent sprinkling. Try to aim for about 1 inch of water per week during active growth periods.

7. Gladiolus bulbs will flower in the summer. After the flowers die down, the plant can enjoy a warmer rest period. Try to leave the leaves on the plant until they die back naturally so that they can store sunlight and energy for the bulb.

8. In zones with mild winters, leave your gladiolus bulbs in the ground for the next growing cycle. In colder zones, to save the gladiolus bulbs to plant the following spring, lift the bulbs before the first hint of frost, cut back stems to about 1 or 2 inches above the bulb and store in a cool, dark and dry location until ready to plant again.