Gladiolus Culture 

The most beautiful and useful of summer 
flowers are very easy to grow and require 
very little attention, but like everything else 
the better care you give them the results 
more than repay the effort. 
Time to plant varies according to your 
location and the season. Here in Michigan 
we plant the last part of April and May and 
June. In that way we have flowers from 
the last of July until frost comes in the fall. 
They like a lot of sunlight—so keep them 
away from buildings and shrubbery. Plant 
good, healthy bulbs and dip them in a mild 
solution of Lysol—using one teaspoonful to 

each quart of water, let them soak from 3 _ 
to 5 hours and drain for a half hour—then plant right away. Plant from 3 
to 6 inches apart in rows 2 feet apart and from 3 to 6 inches deep according 
to the size of bulbs you plant. During dry weather a good thorough soaking 
once a week is better than a daily sprinkling. Watering just before blooming 
season will give you nicer flowers. 
“THRIPS” They can do a lot of damage, and have discouraged a lot 
of people from raising this beautiful flower. The most approved spray is 
the Tartar Emetic Formula——which is one ounce tartar emetic—two ounces 
brown sugar to three gallons of water. Late afternoon is the best time to 
spray. 
In cutting the blooms be sure and leave at least 4 leaves to make a good 
healthy bulb for the following season. Bulbs should be harvested from 4 to 
6 weeks after blooming, cut the stem off as close to the bulbs as possible. 
About 3 weeks after digging you can clean the old bulbs and roots off of 
the new bulbs. Dry the bulbs as quickly as you can—that will help prevent 
disease. Store them in shallow boxes or open bags in a cool, dry place— 
that’s free from frost. A temperature of around 40 degrees is ideal. 
