Some time ago, the demand for gladioli increased significantly by the beginning of the school year. By this time, the prices for flowers were rising sharply, and a flower that was fairly easy to maintain was bought at a price comparable to the price of tulips with delivery from Holland. Therefore, many gardeners set out to learn how to grow these unpretentious flowers at home.

How to grow gladioli in the country

Growing gladioli in the open field will not be difficult, even for a beginner. They don't require any special care. Nevertheless, there are some secrets, knowing which, even a beginner in the field of floriculture will be able to safely grow this crop in his garden, and sometimes even at home.

When choosing bulbs for planting, you should be aware that the size of the tuber does not affect the germination, height and beauty of the flower. For germination characteristics, it is recommended to choose young bulbs. You can determine the age by the height and the size of the bottom. The young bulb has a more elongated shape and a small bottom. When comparing the bulbs with each other, you need to pay attention to the fact that they are of the same variety, since the planting material of different varieties of skewers is very different in size.

Gladioli

For skewers, it is recommended to change the planting site annually. It is not advisable to add fresh organic fertilizing to the ground, this can burn the tubers. In order to delight yourself with bright flowers for a long time, you can plant gladioli in several stages with an interval of 10 days. You should also pay attention to the planted variety. Some varieties can start blooming as early as early July.

Varieties of skewers for open ground

Agrotechnology of gladioli outdoors is very extensive today. Considering that for a very long time this plant was considered a weed and was removed from the plots, now these flowers will delight with an ever wider variety of varieties. Breeders annually breed decorative varieties from wild-growing skewers. By the way, they use the seed of the plant to develop new varieties. In all other cases, it is more acceptable to propagate the crop with tubers.

The most common varieties for open ground among flower growers are the following varieties:

  • Blue Bird - deep purple flowers with a light pink heart.
  • Contrast - yellow flowers with a crimson core.
  • Arina - a tall skewer with a deep purple core and crimson petals.
  • Belle de Nui - gorgeous flowers, with a velvet texture. The burgundy color of different shades is striking in its beauty.
  • Daughter of Nastasya - it has bright crimson flowers with uneven, corrugated petals.
  • Invitation - from the middle of the flower to its edge, the color goes from pink to bright crimson.
  • Vamp - very delicate white and pink colors.
  • Bukakko - are distinguished by an unusual, brown color.
  • Comet - fiery color. The gentle transition from orange to fiery red will not leave anyone unattended.

Growing gladioli from bulbs in the country

How to grow gladioli from bulbs in the country, you can find out from the description below. In order for them to successfully bloom at their summer cottage, you first need to purchase tubers.

Skewers are light-loving plants, so lighting should be taken into account when choosing a place. Especially if the flowers are planted in the northern regions of Russia, such as the Urals or Siberia. In the southern strip, partial shade is allowed. Plants should grow in an area protected from wind and drafts. When growing skewers, it is recommended to ensure that there is no stagnant water. When planting, you need to dilute the soil with sand in a 1: 1 ratio.

Skaters

Cultivating the land before planting is an important step in properly breeding these plants. It will help protect the plant tubers from decay processes. The soil should be loose, medium or neutral acidity. If the soil is acidic, it should be mixed with baking soda. In different territories, the landing time, respectively, is different. Therefore, there are no exact time intervals. Tubers should be planted in open ground when the ground warms up to 8 ° C above 0 ° C.

Gladioli in outdoor pots

To grow gladioli in pots, you need to choose tubers that differ in size in width, not in length. Potted skewers should be comfortable. Therefore, the containers for planting should be chosen spacious, about 40 cm high and 30 cm in diameter. At the very bottom of the pot, drainage should be laid out, which may consist of expanded clay or foam. It will help remove excess water, which is detrimental to the plant's bulbs. The main soil composition is poured from the top of the drainage. It should be loose and nutritious. In specialized stores, you can buy special soil for gladioli.

Growing gladioli in a pot

For planting this crop in pots, it is necessary to choose undersized varieties. Before placing the tuber in the ground, it should be inspected for rot, stains and other diseases. It is recommended to plant only healthy bulbs. Outdoor potted Gladioli can be grown from mid-March to late May.

Gladioli in pots

There are many options for ideas on how to grow gladioli. One of the ways is to plant skewers in pots. Gladioli in pots are a great option for flower lovers, in the absence of a backyard, summer cottage or greenhouse. This is the optimal solution for growing flowers at home. For this method, you should choose varieties that do not grow above 60 cm.

Like pots, for gladioli, such a container as a flowerpot should have high-quality drainage holes so that excess moisture does not stagnate in a closed ground. The optimal bulb size is considered to be 4 cm, with a bottom size not exceeding 8 mm. The bulbs should be smooth to the touch, uniform in structure, no signs of rot and no visible damage.

Gladiolus bulbs

Before planting, it is recommended to treat the tubers with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or fungicides. Further, the bulbs can be left for a while in any growth stimulant. On the bottom of the planter, you need to lay out a good layer of drainage, which may consist of washed gravel. The drainage layer should be at least 3 cm. The soil is poured next, which must be loose and moisture-absorbing. Treated skewer tubers are buried 12 cm deep into the soil layer.If more than one bulb sits in the planter, the distance between the holes should be at least 7 cm.

Outdoor gladioli care

Caring for skewers does not pose any particular difficulties. But the minimum effort is still worth making in order for the plant to please with exuberant flowering.

When the sprout reaches 10 cm in height, it should be covered with mulch, which may consist of humus. Gladioli require weekly watering. It is recommended to spend no more than a bucket of water per square meter, so as not to overdo it with moisture. It is desirable that the water falls exclusively on the topsoil and does not touch the leaves. After watering, the soil is loosened.

Watering gladioli

Be sure to look to see if it's time to tie up the plants. Occasionally, when gladioli produce many flowers, an even stem needs support.During the growth period, gladioli need 3-time feeding. It is recommended to cut the plants either early in the morning or late in the evening.

Growing gladioli in the Moscow region and Siberia

In the Moscow region, it is customary to plant skewers in mid-spring. At this time, the soil is already warm enough, and the threat of night frosts has passed. In Siberia and the Urals, planting occurs three weeks later than in the Moscow region, since the climate is colder. When planting in any area, you should monitor the watering of the plants. It is recommended to carry out it at least 1 time a week. The time of bud formation in these regions coincides with frequent rains, so watering can be stopped for a while, and the soil can be poured with a solution of potassium permanganate, so that the bulbs do not rot due to the increased moisture content. Bulbs and babies are dug up with the onset of the first frost.