A couple of years ago I dug up some gladiola bulbs to store for the winter, while leaving others in the ground. The ones I dug up turned all soft, but the ones in the ground grew in the spring and looked great. I'm wondering if anyone leaves them in the ground over winter? I live in about zone 8, with lots of rain over the winter. Thanks
I was wondering that myself. I planted 70 glad bulbs this spring and I really don't want to dig them all out If I don't have to. I'm in zone 8
I live on the Sunshine Coast of BC and my glads survive the winter well in the ground. I suppose that you could add some extra insulation in the form of leaves etc to be sure. Margaret
Flower--it's "traditional" to dig glads every fall and store them dry over winter. This is similar to dahlias and many other borderline plants. If you can't afford to lose them, they can be stored reliably. Otherwise, as you've found out, they often will overwinter. Keeping them drier in the ground (a sheet of plastic over them during the wettest part of the winter, for e.g.) is usually helpful, as they rot as much as freeze to death in our west coast winters. What did you do with the dug corms that turned soft and didn't make it? Were they in a dry/moist environment, what temp? Glen
Margaret--If I leave them in and find that they do winter okay, should I dig them up every couple of years to divide them? I know they are a bulb instead of a corm, so Im not sure if I even need to ever split. (you can tell I havn't earned my 'green thumb' yet!!)
I am really not an expert and can speak only from experience but I usually divide the new from the old corms after the second year. Having said that I have also accidently moved and separated smaller corms when moving things around in the autumn with the result that glads ofter appear in the unlikelist of places, initially looking like very thick grass leaves. I also scatter the seeds when they are mature. I happen to like the English cottage garden style, probably because I am English and also really enjoy finding surprise guests! Perhaps someone with a greater knowledge than me will also respond to your question?? Back to my tons of grapes before the birds become too greedy!
You seem to be a weath of information! Now you've got me interested in the seeds?? Do tell... How and when to harvest, how to plant and how long before they flower? I couldn't find much information on the web about harvesting seeds. I'm and avid seed collector because I also love the "English garden" look and cant wait to see things popping up. This year my favorites were the Lavatera trimestris "Novella" The're still flowering!!
