How to Grow Gladiolus

Choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun, has well drained soil and is protected from any strong winds.

Enrich the soil with some compost and Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser well before planting.

Place the bulb directly where the plant is to grow at a depth of 10cm and 20cm apart.

Cover with soil.

Keep the soil nice and moist ensuring not to overwater.

When the shoots begin to emerge feed every 1 to 2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses and Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

Choose a well drained spot in the garden that receives full sun and is protected from strong winds.

Fill the pot with Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.

Place the bulb directly into the pot at a depth of 10cm.

Cover with soil.

Keep the soil nice and moist ensuring not to overwater.

When the shoots begin to emerge feed every 1 to 2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses and Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

• These bulbs perform well when planted in clumps and if planted along side dwarf flowering annuals will give you a lovely display when in bloom.
• Gladioli don't like strong winds, so staking may be required if winds do pick up. Make sure that you stake these before the flower buds appear. 
• After planting, it can take 90 to 100 days before flowers appear. To reduce any loss, especially in the hotter weather, try to plant out as early as possible in the late winter or spring to reduce heat stress.
• In warmer districts, you can plant out in May to September to avoid the hotter weather in summer.
• Corms can be lifted once the plant starts to yellow and die off. This is generally around 4-6 weeks after the last flowers have appeared. Once the corms have been lifted, allow the leaves to dry out then cut them off as close to the base of the corm as you can, without damaging the corm and store in a cool dry place.
• Toward the end of the flowering season, feeding the plants with Yates Dynamic Lifter Liquid to ensure a healthy season for next year.

Rust is a common problem on Gladiolus, particularly during period of warm humid weather. At this stage, to prevent the disease from progressing, you will need to spray the foliage with Yates Rose Shield or Yates Ready to Use Rose Gun Blackspot & Insect Killer. Both of these products contain a systemic fungicide called Myclobutanil and can be used for the control of Rust. If the foliage is badly infected, it may be necessary to remove and bin the affected leaves.

After the Gladiolus has finished flowering and the leaves start to die down and dry off, you can then cut off the foliage close to the corm before lifting them. At this point it would be a good idea to dust the corms with a fungicide and store them in a dry, cool place until the next planting season.