Should we dig up gladiolus bulbs or not?

Present in the beds, on the edge or in rows in the vegetable garden, the gladioli bloom all summer until September. Of color pink, white, yellow, red or two-tone, the gladioli produce long floral spikes. Is it possible to store these summer bulbs and how?

When to tear off gladiolus bulbs?

After having bloomed all summer in the gardens, the time has come to pull the bulbs out everywhere, except in the regions with the weather soft. Not hardy, they will not be able to face the cold which will damage the bulbs. Flowering the following year would therefore be non-existent.

Do not pull them out when the foliage is still green because this is when the bulbs take the time to regenerate and rebuild reserves.

How to tear off gladiolus bulbs?

Pick a dry day to prevent mud from sticking to tools and bulbs. When flowering is complete and the foliage has completely wilted, lift the bulbs with a spade fork in order to extract them from the ground, without damaging them. Place them, with the foliage, at the Sun or in a sheltered room. At this time, you can take the seeds present in the dried flowers and store them in a kraft envelope, annotated with the variety.

When the bulbs are dry, remove any soil residue, wilted foliage, and diseased bulbs. Store them, one against the other, in a crate placed in a dark and cool room, frost-free or in nets. Tie them up high to prevent small rodents don’t come and eat them. Observe them regularly to check their health and that rot does not set in.

How to store bulbs in the ground?

If the temperatures do not drop below 0 ° C in your garden and the soil is well drained, leave the bulbs in the ground. When the flowers have wilted and the foliage is completely dry, cut the stems flush with the bulb. Use dead leaves or waste size of perennial plant to cover the row of gladioli to create a protection.