GROWING GLADS AND OTHER THINGS By Peter and Steven J. Welcenbach

Growing gladiolus the past twenty-five years has been a rewarding experience for the Welcenbach Family at Calumet Hill Farm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Much of our success with gardening and raising glads can be attributed to several wonderful factors. For one, the approximately two acre plot of farmland we bought from Camille LeFevre, now aged 92 and our adopted ..Grandmother", has been extremely fertile and presently satisfies us as our "Paradise on Earth". Why, we wouldn't even trade the place for all the glad land in Lakeside, California at the foot of Sam's (Fisher) Hill. 

Another factor has been our ability to wisely budget our time, energy and space (sound like the age we are hurtling through?) to the point that we seldom overextended ourselves in our gardening ambitions. This, mainly, has been the real key to our success and enjoyment in growing glads and other things. Still other factors included good to excellent growing conditions, year after year. Every year that passed, we would exclaim to others how great a growing season we had. 1982 was so perfect that we dare not ask God to duplicate it in the future. Only during two growing seasons did we experience any real setbacks. A July 30 hailstorm practically wiped out our show glads in one year. A violent rain and windstorm on an August 3rd knocked down our giant willow tree several years ago. Of course, it dropped right into our main glad garden and took its toll of our top exhibition spikes. Considering all things, good soil, average growing conditions and dedicated efforts will bring you the rewards of gardening, namely, much joy, satisfaction and a real sense of good living.

 Since this article is being directed to the absolute beginner, several assumptions must be recognized. They are the following: I. The reader has knowledge and experience in gardening activities. 2. The reader understands there is such a thing as a gladiolus flower. 3. That they grow to heights varying from three to six feet while preferring a location in full sunlight. 4. That they grow from live plants known as corms but conveniently called bulbs. 5. That quality bulbs must be obtained from reputable suppliers. Gladiolus thrive in a great variety of soils and, particularly, if well drained and in full sun. They do not welcome competition of the roots from trees or other woody plant material. So plant them in the sunniest garden plot, away from other growing plants on your property. A soil that has produced good garden crops for you in years past will give you excellent results with "glads." 

When to plant them? A simple rule of thumb is this. When the trees begin leafing out in the spring, the gladiolus season can get under way in earnest. Here, at Calumet Hill Farm, that time roughly corresponds to May 10th. At that time, the flowering crab trees are showing their vigor and beauty. Another method is to begin planting when the danger of the last heavy frost has passed. How to plant them? Methods vary but soil preparation is very important. Generally, it is best to plow, spade or rototill in the fall in order to allow the frost and early spring rains to break up the clumps. If preparation was done in the fall, the soil can be raked level and is then ready for planting. Otherwise, complete soil preparation should begin only when the ground can be suitably worked. The soil is ready to be worked when it easily breaks up after forming a ball of it in your hand.

SPRING 1983

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