petunia
northern michigan
Posts: 2246
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:54 am Post subject: digging up gladiolas |
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We planted glads late this year, but two have only managed to bloom. To clean the garden out, I'm needing now to dig up my glads. I don't think they'll be any more to flower. The question is--after digging them up, Do I cut them down, if so how far down do they get cut? Then should I just put them in a brown paper bag and put them in a cool place? Seeking any advice you can give me on digging up glads.
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Petunia
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toni
 Administrator
Plants Moderator
Regular Plants Contributor
North Texas, Zone 8a
Posts: 11249
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:13 am Post subject: |
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Glads are like all other bulbs, they need the leaves to gather sunlight to make energy for next years blooms. The more leaf and the longer it stays on will help assure more blooms next year. If you really have to dig them up now, say before your ground freezes, then put them in a pot in a sunny location for as long as possible then move them inside.
They don't require chilling in order to bloom the way Tulips do so a garage or greenhouse area should be fine for winter storage.
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stratsmom
Southern Oregon
Posts: 2284
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:25 am Post subject: |
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Petunia I've never dug mine and I'm in zone 6. I dug them one year, thinking I was doing a good thing and they molded  I figure if they come back good, if they don't they will just rot and add to the soil  I'm kind of a lazy gardener.
Deanna
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glendann
Texas
Posts: 9228
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:54 am Post subject: |
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I leave them too of couse I'm in Texas.I may move them and replant them after the frost and they die back but thats all.
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Netty
Regular Plants Contributor
Southern Ontario zone 5a
Posts: 9959
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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I dig mine up here too Petunia. I don't find they need any special treatment, but I do leave the foliage on until they are brown (or until spring sometimes). I dig mine up and store them in a milk crate in a cool, dry, darkish place making sure to shake any soil off.
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gardenmama
Vermont
Posts: 575
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: digging up gladiolas |
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| petunia wrote: | | We planted glads late this year, but two have only managed to bloom. To clean the garden out, I'm needing now to dig up my glads. I don't think they'll be any more to flower. The question is--after digging them up, Do I cut them down, if so how far down do they get cut? Then should I just put them in a brown paper bag and put them in a cool place? Seeking any advice you can give me on digging up glads. |
In zone 4 I have to dig up my glad and dahlia bulbs. I cut them down to right above the bulbs. Dry them for a few days on some newspaper and then put them away some where cool and dark. Not too cold though they will rot. I have a box with a screen bottom and top and put the bulbs in the basement where it is about 50 degrees all the time.
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Gardengirl
Hertfordshire,UK
Posts: 1020
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| Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject: |
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I never dig mine up and have been lucky enough to have beautiful blooms for a few years now. Ooops, having said that I have probably put the mockers on them and they will rot over winter!!!
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Mr_Crocosmia
Regular Plants Contributor
Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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I never dig mine up either..... they come up year after year!!
I also have Papilio which is a species Glad and that is veryyyyyyyyyy hardy..... it would probably be ok outside in zone 5.
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Public Designs
ohio
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:39 am Post subject: |
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I have quite a few glads out and I have never had to dig them up. I have some regular sized ones and some miniature. They have come back for the most part every year. I have more trouble with wind knocking my big ones down than anything.
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