I noticed two 'swords' coming off most of my gladiolas last month but now that they are flowering I realize that they are two separate flower stalks. Is that normal? From what I remember of these flowers from childhood there was only one flower stalk and the blooms were big- not like what I have. Is there something I should be aware of to encourage only one flower stalk for next year?
I don't know. Is it possible that there was some mechanical damage, such as with a hoe or rake, or ground penetrating frost or freeze? Sometimes damage to the budding tissue will trigger a similar response in other plants. I haven't seen it in glads, but also haven't grown them since last century. Other than that, are the colors and forms of the flowers as you remember?
lol- last century sounds funny! there might have been frost affect them...almost all of them so far have two flower stalks. The flowers are the same shape but very different in colour- multicoloured actually. I spoke with a neighbor yesterday who advised me to dig them out in the fall.
