These beautiful flowers are perennial, but are grown as annuals with an annual bulb digging, storage and disembarkation. Gladiolus, prepared for planting in the spring which is produced correctly, well enter, grow rapidly, abundantly bloom.
Preparation of gladioli for planting in spring
Gladioluses are not capricious in care and cultivation, but their planting and preliminary preparation in the spring is not an easy task. Here, all the rules must be observed, the slightest non-observance of which will reduce all diligence to zero. And the most important stage that guarantees you that the flower will be healthy and strong is the correct spring preparation of gladioli for planting.
Preparation of gladioli for planting in the spring is very necessary, it almost guarantees us a 100% timely germination of the plant, healthy growth, good flowering. Preparation begins with the correct winter storage of tubers, they must be thoroughly cleaned from the ground, the stems must be completely cut off. Further onions should be washed well, put in a solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. Then the tubers are placed in boxes of cardboard and stored in a dry and non-flammable place.
When to start preparing gladioli for planting?
With the onset of spring, the box should be taken from the place where it was stored in winter, the approximate time for preparing for planting gladioli - the first half of April. First of all, we inspect the bulbs for rot. If most of the bulb is spoiled, there is nothing left but to throw it away. If there are rotten places on it, but most of the bulb is healthy, it is necessary to carefully cut off the area affected by rot, and place the cut with charcoal.
When should I clean gladioli for planting?
The timing when to clean gladioli for germination in the spring, is determined simply - it is done immediately after you have got the box from the storage place. Tubers are completely cleared of the husks - this helps to determine the presence or absence of affected areas. And cleaning is the prevention of fungal and bacterial infections of the flower - after the procedure, the tubers are well washed with water and soaked with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Treatment of gladiolus bulbs before germination
The next stage, how to prepare gladioli for germination - is the treatment of rhizomes. It will not only improve the nutrition of the flower, but will also accelerate the onset of flowering by 12-14 days on average. The solution for processing is prepared according to this recipe (the figures are given in 10 liters of water):
- boric acid 3 g;
- sulfate copper 3 g;
- potassium permanganate 2 g;
- magnesium sulfate 2.5 g;
- nitric acid cobalt 1 g;
- molybdate aluminum 1-1.5 g;
- Zinc sulphate 0.5-0.7 g
Be very careful with the dosage - an arbitrary increase in them can cause the plants to become weak and depressed, and even to death of the plant. In the resulting solution of room temperature we place the tubers for 12-14 hours, then dry them well. After this, you can proceed to the next stage - germination of gladioli.
Preparation of gladiolus bulbs for planting - germination
Apparently, gladioli are very moody, and their preparation for planting in the spring requires proper attention. The next action is the germination of bulbs. This step can also be skipped, it is not necessary to do this. But if you sprout, it guarantees rapid growth and early flowering of the gladiolus, all the more, this procedure is not anything complicated.
Germination of gladiolus before planting it's time to start from the middle of March in warm regions. Bulbs are laid out on a pallet in a warm, but shaded place - an abundance of light can interfere with the process. They germinate very quickly. Two or three days before planting, we place the gladiolus tubers on a wet napkin, so they will have small roots before planting, and flowers in the open ground will take root better.
Germination of gladioli in sawdust
More effectively germination of gladiolus before planting in sawdust - tubers are placed in wet sawdust and dark and warm place. The advantage in this method is that the sawdust retains moisture well and for a long time, so that the gladiolus bulbs will not only let shoots grow, but rootlets will also grow. Watch out for the sawdust to be slightly moist, but in no case wet, otherwise the bulbs may rot.
Germination of gladiolus in peat pots
Preparing gladioli for spring planting, sprouting can be done in peat pots . The main advantage of this option is that the bulb in the process is fed. It happens in this way - each bulb is placed in a pot and placed on a window or on a glassed loggia. Sunlight with this method of germination is useful to the plant. Two weeks later the gladioli are ready for planting in the open ground.
When to plant gladioli in open ground?
Gladioli, preparing for planting in spring which is made successfully and by all rules, are absolutely ready for planting in the garden. The best period for planting is the second half of April in warm regions and the beginning of May in cold regions - the land should be already warm, heated to 10 degrees at a depth of about 10 cm, otherwise the bulb can freeze. First of all we choose a place for their planting - it should be an open piece of land, gladiolus needs a lot of sun.
Planting gladioli in the spring into the soil is as follows:
- Calculate the depth of the hole. Its diameter should be three times larger than the diameter of the gladiolus bulb, only then it can grow and develop well.
- Dig out a hole and a rash in it a handful of fine sand.
- On the sand, carefully place the bulb.
- Bury the flower in the ground and water well with water at room temperature.