Gladiolus are one of the easiest flowers to grow. They do well in a wide range of soil types - provided drainage is good, but they grow best in soil with a pH of 6.7 to 7. Most garden soil that will produce a good crop of vegetables or weeds will also grow good glads with little or no added fertilizer. Glads prefer full sunlight but will do reasonably well with a little high shade in early morning or late afternoon.Good circulation is desirable, so stay away from buildings or other obstructions, which might impede airflow.

Plow, rototill or spade your soil as you would for any other garden plants, it is best to move your glad planting from one area to another each year to help prevent disease carryover in the soil. If soil tests or other reliable indicators points to a lack of nutrients, a balanced commercial fertilizer such as 5-10-10 may be incorporated into the soil immediately prior to planting, at a rate of 2-3 pounds per 100 square feet. Avoid over fertilizing. Composted animal manure or leaves should only be worked into the soil in the fall.

Your first planting should be when you would normally plant sweet corn in your area. Corms planted in cold soils are apt to rot before they begin to grow. Subsequent plantings at two-week intervals will ensure bloom over a long period of time. Plant corms three to five inches deep and from four to six inches apart. Insecticide spread in the trench before covering will discourage underground insects. Before glads bloom, hilling soil six inches up around the stalk helps prevent the glads from tipping over during storms. Remember that glads need plenty of water but will not tolerate wet feet. If drainage is a problem in your soil, rows should be raised to facilitate the process.

Weed by shallow cultivation and hand weeding. Avoid packing or heavy caking of soil surface, which prevents soil aeration. If available, a light mulch of straw, grass clippings, etc., between rows will discourage weeds and help conserve moisture. Insect control is important in growing glads. Pests include thrip, which is by in far the most damaging. Thrip are tiny insects, tan to black in color and less than 1/8" in length, can be controlled by several good combination sprays and dusts, including organic products, are available at your local Garden center. If you chose organic products, more frequent applications will be needed.

If you live where the ground does not freeze in the winter, you may choose not to dig your corms; however, disease and crowding may reduce the amount and quality of your bloom. You should remove plant tops 6-8 weeks after bloom and remove them from the garden to prevent the spread of disease. It is suggested that you dig and divide your corms every couple of years, being sure to discard any damaged or diseased corms. If you live where the ground freezes, you will need to dig your corms each year or if you chose not to dig, purchase new corms. Glad corms should be lifted in the fall before the onset of ground freezing weather. About 6-8 weeks after blooming, the corms may be harvested by loosening the soil with a spade or digging fork so that the plants can be pulled by hand. The plant should be separated from the corm as close to the corm as possible, either by hand breaking or cutting with pruning shears. You should remove the old plant tops from the garden to prevent carry over of disease. The corms should be cleaned or rinsed off with running water and then spread out to dry in shallow layers in trays or porous bags in an airy location that will not freeze, for a period of from 2 to 3 weeks. This area must be above freezing temperatures. During this time a cork layer forms between the new corm and the old mother corm and roots. Break off and discard this old corm as soon as possible. Delay in cleaning results in greater difficulty in removal of the old corm.

After cleaning, corms should be lightly dusted with a combination fungicide/insecticide dust, placed in shallow trays, mesh bags or open paper bags to be stored for the winter. Do not use any covering material. A well-ventilated root cellar is ideal but any room with good air circulation in the average home basement will suffice, if temperatures an be kept between 38-58 degrees. The lower temperature is best.