HINTS ON GLADIOLUS GROWING 
PRE-PLANTING TREATMENT 
All bulbs should be dipped before planting as a precaution against fungus diseases. I 
have found Natraphene to give the best results as a dip. Dissolve one tablet in 212 gallons of 
water and soak your bulbs for approximately 10 days. On a long soaking the bulb absorbs the 
solution and any diseases are killed from the inside out. If you have a few bulbs of many 
varieties, you can cut cardboard milk cartons in half and soak your different varieties in 
different cartons. 
Send 15c for one Natraphene tablet, 2 for 25c, or 10 for $1.00. 
You can use 114 tablespoonfuls of Lysol per gallon of water and soak your bulbs for 3 hours 
and be sure to plant immediately afterwards. I have found the Lysol treatment to be inferior 
to Natraphene. 
You may find Natraphene hard to locate, so it would be advisable to order Natraphene 
with your bulb order. 
PLANTING 
Glads prefer full sun but will do well if they can get 4 hours or more sunshine a day. 
Plant your bulbs in rows, spacing them approximately 4 inches apart and approximately 
4 inches deep. Larger bulbs deeper and smaller bulbs a little shallower. If planting them in 
beds make them approximately 8 inches apart in all directions. They are easier to cultivate 
if planted in rows. As they grow hill up to them so that they will be less apt to fall over when 
blooming. 
FERTILIZER 
Be sure to Keep fertilizer away from the bulbs. A LITTLE well rotted manure worked into 
the soil at least 6 months before planting your bulbs is o.k. You can use a little bone meal 
under the bulbs, providing you put at least 1142 inches of dirt over the bone meal before you 
plant. Keep fertilizer away from your bulbs, though, and use it very sparingly. I don’t use 
any on my glads. A light side dressing may be benficial if applied to the center of the row 
and away from the bulbs. Side dress, if you insist on doing this, when your glads get their 
fifth leaf. I don’t, though. As glads like acid soil a handful of peat moss around each bulb 
should be beneficial, especially if you live in California or where your soil or water is inclined 
to be alkaline. For the third time—keep fertilizer away from the bulbs. 
ALKALINE SOIL 
Glads prefer soil on the acid side. If your soil is alkaline use approximately 4 pounds of 
sulphur per 100 square feet of soil. Rake it in the top of the soil after planting. Do not spade 
it in. Keep it wet. Peat moss is a help. 
WATERING AND CULTIVATING 
Water a lot. Glads like lots of water and good drainage. For sandy soil, water every three 
days (every day if it gets over 100 degrees hot)—real heavy soil every 10 days. Give a good 
soaking each time. 
CUTTING BLOOMS 
When cutting your glads be sure to leave at least 4 leaves on the plant. Without the 
leaves a new bulb cannot be developed. You can pick your glads any time after the first 
floret is ready to open. 
DIGGING 
You do not have to wait until the leaves get dry to dig. You can dig six weeks after they 
finish blooming. 
STORING BULBS 
After your bulbs are dug let them dry for two to four weeks depending on the tempera- 
ture. Do not dry in the sun if the temperature goes over 85 degrees. In about three weeks 
clean off the roots and the old bulb. Separate the bulblets. Dust with 5% DDT and store 
them where they will keep dry—the drier the better. Do not put them over 2% inches deep 
in boxes though. 
GARDEN CLUBS 
Many garden clubs sweeten their treasury by buying bulbs from the wholesale list and 
re-selling them to club members at retail price and putting the profit in their treasury. Your 
garden club shouldn't let this opportunity pass. I have a soft spot in my heart for garden 
clubs because they do a great deal to keep their members up with the world. I just can’t help 
giving garden clubs quite a bit of overcount. 
PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING 
On retail orders of $2.50 or more we Bay the postage. On orders of less than $2.50 please 
add 15 cents to help cover postage, etc. You can send $1 with your order and the balance 
C.0.D. On these we put in extra bulbs because you pay the postage plus C.O.D. fee plus a 
money order fee. You will be ahead sending full remittance with your order. 
We ship Christmas orders in December. We start shipping others in January or if you live 
where it gets cold we start shipping when danger of freezing is over. 
Every year we run out of many varieties. The earlier you order the more likely you are 
apt to get every variety you order. 
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