Unlocking the Beauty of Plum Tart Gladiolus

Calhoun County, AL – Exotic Plum Tart Gladiolus by Betty Clark 4.14.24. In 2018 my mother’s heirloom gladiolus bed became my corm possessions. Gladiolus corms can be dug up easy & transplanted easy.  Many gardeners call them bulbs but they are corms. Her prized Plum Tart Gladiolus corms are a unique color hue. Their colors of pastel pink and yellow centers are like eye candy in a vase.  Many gladiolus bloom about 10 to 14 weeks after you have planted them, usually from late June to early July.  Some gardeners stagger the plantings. However, the hotter the weather into deep summer temperatures above 85° will  reduce the flowers on the stalk. Early summer is the perfect environment for maximum blooms.  I leave my corms in the ground 3-5 years then dig them up in the fall to rest indoors. Gardeners have left corms in the ground without ever digging them up for a rest. Corms left in the ground forever will start getting exhausted & producing new corms that usually are smaller blooms. I cure the corms that were dug up outside by hanging stalks attached to corms on a shed wall for a few weeks to dry out slightly.  The curing keeps the corm sealed from moisture attacks.  I store the corms by cutting off the dried stalks and store the corms in paper bags placed in a cool dry area like a utility room or closet out of the light. Do not place corms near bathrooms because they will draw dampness & rot. Once the last frost date happens you can safely plant your corms. Corms will grow in almost any soil types. The richer the compost the easier it is to plant corms. Hard clay is not a good choice. Corms do not like to be planted very deep. I use my hand as the measurement. Plant the corms hand deep. Wait about watering the corms until you see green shoots. Water weekly, do not let the corms be immersed like canna lilies (which are bog, river bank water lovers). Stalks of gladiolus will need staking. The stalks produce heavy blooms & without staking the wind can damage the stalks. Enjoy your journey of beauty with gladiolus!

Betty Clark is a contributing writer. She is an organic gardener since 1998. Signature flower she grows are Dahlias. She has a straw bale garden, raised bed garden, and in ground garden. Both her surnames are agricultural farming families (8 generations). Her hobbies include ancestry research, antiques, continued education classes, and workshops. She also has a background in marketing & promotions including expos. To contact Betty Clark with gardening questions: bettyclark2151959@gmail.com

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