GLADIOLUS CULTURE 
BULB STORAGE: Bulbs must be stored so air can circulate among them. When 
your shipment of bulbs arrives, open the bags to allow air to get to them and if not 
ready to plant, store in a cool, dry place, preferably about 40° to 50°. Bulbs will freeze 
below 28°, and may start to sprout if temperature is too high. 
PLANTING SPOT: Select a spot as far from trees and buildings as possible. Trees 
draw the moisture and buildings reflect the heat, or shade too much. 
SOIL PREPARATION: Spade deep and add plenty of DECAYED cow manure, if you 
can get it, otherwise use a complete artificial fertilizer such as Vigoro. Dig your trench 
7“ deep, put the fertilizer in the bottom of this and cover with approximately 2” of soil, 
upon which to plant your bulbs. This puts the bulbs five inches below the surface. Do 
not plant bulblets this deep. The depth may vary according to the weight of the soil 
and size of bulb. For show spikes space from 8 to 10 inches, we plant much closer than 
this. Glads need root room to develop good spikes. 
WATER is as necessary as sunshine in growing choice glads. There may be enough 
rain in early season but soak them down good in August, or as soon as needed. A light 
sprinkling may do more harm than good, as it tends to draw the roots to the hot surface. 
Keep moist until the flower is cut. 
CUT FLOWERS: Cut when first bloom opens and develop indoors. You may enjoy 
the spike a long time because a good variety opens every bud in water. Leave at least 
four leaves on the plant to develop the bulb for next year. 
THRIP IS THE MAIN INSECT PEST. Thrip is a tiny insect, a mere speck which sucks the 
life juice from the tender flower buds before the spike emerges from the plant. The 
result is a poor spike, or one whose buds fail to open properly, or with mottled injured 
bloom. 
THRIP CONTROL: Since all people do not kill thrips on their bulbs before planting, 
you may still get thrip from other gardens. To be on the safe side, start spraying your 
plants when 4 to 6 inches high, every week with a Tartar Emetic Spray, composed of 1 
ounce Tarter Emetic dissolved in 3 gallons of water, and add %% pound of brown sugar. 
Cover entire plant with a fine spray, but not enough to run off. If rain washes off the 
spray you must repeat. New experiments show that 1% to 5% DDT dust used in small 
dust gun, which will make a dust fog, is being used to kill thrips on growing plants and 
also in bulb storage. DDT spray form also used for growing plants. Use weekly the 
same as Tarter Emetic. 
DISEASE CONTROL: New Improved Ceresan is one of the best disinfectants against 
rot and will also kill thrips. 1 oz. N. |. Ceresan, 3 teaspoons Grosselli Spreader Sticker 
or other spreader to 3 gal. of water. Soak 15-30 minutes keeping bulbs well stirred. 
Plant the same day as dipped. We have used this treatment. 
CULTIVATION: Cultivate your gladiolus frequently enough to keep soil loose and 
free of weeds. Cultivate soil after each rain or watering to keep surface from baking. 
Don’t cultivate too deeply; two inches is deep enough and will not disturb roots. 
PLANTING TIME: The time to plant glads depends upon the variety, size of bulbs, 
time you desire blooms, and your local climatic conditions. Therefore | do not set any 
fast rule as to when to plant. | may say you can plant as soon as the earliest garden 
seeds start to grow, and on and until the first of July. | advocate getting different 
sizes of bulbs for a prolonged blooming season. 
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