Too late to plant Gladiolus?

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Hi, Is it too late to plant Gladiolus bulbs if I order some? I don't care if they bloom this year as long as they bloom next year. If it's too late then when can I plant them?

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

7 years ago

First, I can't imagine any reputable bulb vendors sending out glad corms at this time of year. And I would be dubious about the quality of any you find on clearance now, as they have probably been sitting around for months under less than ideal storage conditions.

Yes, it is too late to plant. The soil is still warm enough to encourage root development and topgrowth but they will not bloom before frost and the vegetative growth will just weaken the corm. And then you will also need to deal with the issue of how well they might overwinter, which is sometimes iffy even in mild zones unless you have excellent drainage.

I would wait to plant until the soil warms sufficiently in early spring. If you already have the corms, store them somewhere cool, dark and dry.

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Comments (6)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
7 years ago
the way i think.. remember.. what gal suggests ... is that the corm/bulb is a energy storage system ....

if you spend all the stored energy this fall ... just growing greenery ... there might not be time later in fall .... for it to restore new energy for next spring ...

so in my mind.. i would think.. boy this is out of phase ... i better think about something else .. lol ...

also .. in spring.. the sun is in its ascendancy ... get stronger every day ... heating soil... providing strong light for photosynthesis and storing energy produced ...

fall sun is the opposite.. weakening every day ... [did anyone else notice its already getting darker earlier.. or dawn coming a bit later every day?] ... so as you roll into late sept.. oct ... even nov ... even if you are in a mild area ... its just different light intensity ... which is also way out of phase ....

it would be an interesting experiment .. if you can get some decent stock cheap ... like throwing away a few bucks on some other order ... but i dont know if i would invest heavily in a big project ...

all that said ... i think of glads as one and done... throw the bulb away ... so a plan to overwinter them is a bit foreign to me... but that might be my colder zone experience ... [actually dont even bother digging it up to throw away ... lol]

ken
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stuartlawrence (7b L.I. NY)
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you. I will wait on planting them then. If I purchase some Gladiolus bulbs where can I store them during the winter?
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
7 years ago
I'm wondering why you are keen to buy them too soon rather than obtain them at an appropriate time when they will have been stored professionally over the winter by the bulb company. And as gg pointed out, a good firm wouldn't be offering them for sale at the wrong time of year.
HU-754928482
last year
If I buy tulips and gladiols noe in february can I plant these now ot wait for spring in march in
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
last modified: last year
Your location governs when to plant these two genera. Where I am it's too late for tulips (even if you can find them for sale) and too soon for gladioli.