SNYDER’S “GLAD ACRES” LENOX, MICHIGAN 
You to Grow Gladiolus 
Gladiolus are one of the easiest flowers to grow. Ordinarily good gardening practices will 
reward you with fine blooms. The newer varieties are a far cry from the old gladiolus 
that your Dad and Mother grew. The thrips that many times kept glads from blooming 
have been licked by D.D.T. and with little effort you can have a gorgeous garden of glads. 
The following cultural hints should be found helpful. 
WHEN RECEIVED. Open package at once to admit air. Store in a dry, cool cellar. 
WHEN TO PLANT. Plant when the trees native to your locality are leafing out. Here in 
Michigan I start planting the first week in May, and finish up about the 20th of June. 
For maximum results plant some time in May. Do not plant too early. 
WHERE TO PLANT. The ideal place to plant is a garden full of sun, where there are 
no trees, shrubs or anything to take the moisture from the ground. If planted in beds or 
in the borders, be careful not to plant them too close to strong growing plants. 
KIND OF SOIL. Glads will grow in most any kind of soil from light sand to heavy clay, 
but a sandy loam is the best. Be sure there is good drainage. Glads like lots of water, but 
will not stand wet feet. They do not like lime. 
DISINFECTING. We advocate disinfecting bulbs before planting even though they 
appear free of insects and disease. An easy inexpensive dip which is as effective as any 
known today is Lysol. Soaking bulbs in a weak solution of Lysol (4 teaspoons to 1 gallon 
of water) for 3 hours has been found effective against thrips and bulb diseases. Caution: 
Bulbs must be planted immediately after soaking and soil must be moist. If not possible 
to plant immediately rinse bulbs thoroughly in clear water to remove Lysol and lay out 
to dry. When again ready to plant dip in solution again for one minute and plant 
immediately. 
PREPARATION OF SOIL. Unless your soil is very good it is a good plan to manure it 
well in the fall using cow or hog manure, plowing it under in the fall. Do not use hen 
or horse manure unless thoroughly decomposed. Pulverize the soil well before planting to 
a depth of 6 inches preferably. Use no manures of any kind in the spring unless thoroughly 
decomposed. 
DISTANCE APART. You may plant bulbs 2 or 3 inches apart and 2 bulbs wide in row 
if you desire, 3 or 4 inches apart for better results. 
DEPTH TO PLANT. Plant from 3 to 6 inches deep. Sandy soil requires deeper planting 
than clay soils. Small bulbs should not be over 3 inches deep. 
HOW TO PLANT. Place the bulbs in the trench and cover with soil. Some people 
sprinkle a light application of commercial fertilizer on the partly covered row before 
leveling off. 
CULTIVATING. Work the ground well all summer. Loosen it well after heavy rains and 
keep a good dust mulch during dry weather. Cultivate shallowly when the roots begin to 
spread. 
CUTTING. The gladiolus is essentially a cut flower. Leave as many leaves as possible; 
at least 4 or 5. Cut on the slant and when the first flower is beginning to open. Your 
bulbs will mature better if the flowers are cut. 
WATERING. During hot dry spells a thorough watering once a week will give gratifying 
results. Watering just before blooming will give better flowers. Cultivate soil as soon as 
possible after watering. 
FERTILIZING. Glads do not require lots of fertilizer though they will respond gratefully 
to moderate applications during the growing season. A handful to about 15 feet of row 
and worked in the soil well is enough. Two or three light applications before blooming is 
enough. Before rains is the best time, otherwise water well after fertilizing. Any com- 
mercial fertilizer is recommended. Fertilizers richer in Potash and Phosphoric Acid than 
in Nitrogen are recommended. Do not let the fertilizer touch the plants or roots. 
