GLADIOLUS cuttunat notes 
Prepared by Illinois Gladiolus Society, including latest 
recommendations for disease and insect pest control 
After bulbs* are purchased, bags should be opened to admit air. Keep them 
in a cool place until planting time which can be as soon as the frost is out of the 
ground. Plantings can be continued at weekly intervals to insure succession of 
bloom until about July 1. i 
Select the planting site carefully. Full sun is desirable and get as far away 
from buildings and trees as you can, Glads will grow well in any good garden 
soil but are very responsive to extra attention, all plowing or spading with 
old rotten cow manure turned under is ideal. Otherwise spring spading is satis- 
factory. Spade deeply and turn under rotten cow manure if you can get it. 
Otherwise, use a good grade of commercial fertilizer. Good growers have their 
pet methods of applying the fertilizer to secure fine blooms. One good method is 
to dig a trench about 7 inches deep, apply a heavy dusting of fertilizer in the 
bottom of the trench, cover with about 2 inches of soil, and plant your bulbs on 
top of this. Bulbs may be placed very closely together if space is limited. . Best 
results will probably be secured if 7 to 10 inches is allowed between the bulbs. 
Cover the bulbs with the remaining soil from the trench, Rows may be made 18 
inches to 30 inches apart, depending on space available. 
With a normal season, little or no watering will be needed until the stem 
starts to thicken. From then until blooming time, the ground should be kept 
moist in order to secure the finest, most luxuriant blooms. A side dressing of 
complete fertilizer applied beside the rows at about the time watering is started 
may be advisable. 
If flowers are desired for cutting, best results are had by cutting in the 
morning when the first blooms open. (Leave at least four leaves on the plant so 
the bulb will develop well for next year.) Take to the cool basement and place in 
cool water for a few hours. Your spike will be at its very best the following 
morning, and will continue to open flowers for several days if you will cut off a 
little of the stem on a slant each morning. 
“About 6 weeks to 2 months after blooming the leaves will begin to yellow as. 
the new bulb matures. Dig the bulb before the plant dies down entirely, cut off 
the tops CLOSE TO THE BULB, store in a shady place for a few days, until 
dry. In about two or three weeks, depending on the rate of drying, the old bulbs 
will come off easily and the clean new bulb is ready for winter storage. A cool 
dry place with a 40 to 45 degree storage is ideal. See that the bulbs are open 
to the air at all times. 
Insect Pests: Thrips are about the only insect likely to cause injury to gladi- 
ous. They are tiny black insects about 1/25th of an inch long and hard to see. 
They travel with the wind and may get to your garden from that of a neighbor. 
They suck the juice from the tender flower spike and the flowers may fail to open. 
Fortunately they are easy to control if steps are taken early. The recommended 
spray is two tablespoons of Tartar Emetic and 4 ounces of brown sugar to 3 
gallons of water. Apply in a fine spray at about 10-day intervals, starting whem 
the plants are about 6 inches high. Paris Green may be substituted for the Tartar 
Emetic, and 8 ounces of corn syrup may be used instead of the brown sugar. 
Disease Control: Recommendations based on extensive research by Dr. D. B. 
Creager, Research Pathologist, Illinois Natural History Survey, and Secretary, 
Illinois Gladiolus Society, call for soaking bulbs immediately before planting in a 
preparation made by mixing | teaspoonful Cresol Solution Compound (U.S.P. 
XI) with each quart of water. Soak for 3 hours JUST BEFORE PLANTING. 
(The proprietary compound Lysol can be substituted for Cresol Solution Com- 
pound with equally satisfactory results.) Yearly soaking of the bulbs will do 
much to keep your stock healthy and free from soil born diseases. j 
For more complete information on culture, varieties, hybridizing, and news 
of gladiolus shows and winnings, join a good gladiolus society. 
*The word “bulb” is used in the popular sense. Technically, the gladiolue yrowa from a corm. 
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