Planting Gladiolus in New Zealand
1. When to Plant
Timing: Plant your Gladiolus corms in spring, from September through to November.
Frost: Wait until the danger of the last frost has passed in your area.
Pro-Tip: For a continuous display of flowers through summer, plant a new batch of corms every 2-3 weeks during this spring planting window.
2. Choosing and Preparing the Location
Sunlight: Gladioli thrive in full sun. Choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Soil: They require well-drained soil. If you have heavy clay, improve drainage by mixing in compost and a bit of sand before planting. This prevents the corms from rotting.
3. How to Plant the Corms
Depth: Dig holes or a trench about 10-15 cm deep. Planting them on the deeper side helps anchor the tall flower spikes.
Orientation: Place the corm in the hole with the pointed side facing upwards. The flatter, slightly concave side is the base where the roots will grow.
Spacing: Space the corms 10-15 cm apart to give them enough room to grow.
Watering: After planting, cover them with soil and water them well to settle them in.
4. Care During the Growing Season
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry spells in summer and when you see the flower spikes starting to emerge.
Support: Gladioli grow tall (often over 1 metre) and can be knocked over by wind. It's a good idea to place stakes near the corms when you plant them or be prepared to add support as the flower stalks grow.
Flowering: You can expect beautiful blooms in mid to late summer, typically about 90 to 100 days after planting.
5. After Flowering (End of Season Care)
Lifting Corms: Wait until after the flowers have faded and the leaves have turned yellow and died back before carefully digging up the corms.
Storing: Brush off the soil and let them dry in a warm, airy place for a week or two. Then, store them in a cool, dark, and dry location (like in a paper bag or onion sack in a garage) until you're ready to replant them the following spring.
