Gladiolus to be grown for home use should be planted in rows, at least eighteen inches apart. The bulbs within the rows may be planted four to six inches apart and four to six inches deep depending on the size of the bulb. The larger the bulb, the deeper it should be planted. Experienced show-glad growers space bulbs up to twelve inches within the row and in rows up to three feet apart to obtain maximum sunlight for their exhibition spikes. For the beginner, this is hardly necessary since his main concern should be to get acquainted with glads by growing them in such a way, as to produce a lovely, usable flower in his home surroundings.

The bulbs, themselves, may be planted in furrows of the proper depth or in separate holes made by means of a planting trowel or a hole digger available for planting bulbs. We have used the hole digger method over the years, and find it most welcome in many ways. Once the soil is raked, we stretch out our line, lay out a yardstick, and plant them six or eight inches apart as desired. In fact, we actually plant our bulbs six inches on either side of the line, thus forming a double row, a foot apart. The distance between our double rows is a full three feet in order to enjoy the greatest freedom of movement we seem to need working amongst the glads.

The beginner, however, should not be thinking in the above terms because the number of bulbs in the first season of planting should not exceed fifty or so. The proper care and cultivation of this many will enable one to enjoy the results of his efforts rather than become discouraged with the amount of work and time required to grow many more than this. If, after a season of success with glads, one is really thrilled with this lovely flower, by all means, go ahead with planting as many as can be cared for properly.

When planting the bulbs, rare must be taken to place them in the soil right-side up. The top of the bulb will normally send out a visible shoot while the bottom will show a small circle of root nodes. Place the bulbs carefully, root nodes toward the soil. Better still, a handful of sand in the hole or in the trench provides an excellent planting base for the roots to grow.

Once in the ground, the bulbs should be covered, at least, partially. As the shoots emerge in growth, the remaining soil should be hilled around the tips. When the plants are three inches high, weeding should begin and the soil hilled from both sides of the row. Continue hilling the soil around the plants until they are a foot high. This is easily done with a hoe or garden rake. By hilling the plants, the rows are kept weed free and the plants are given support for the spikes to bloom later.

It took us many years to realize the value of mulching our glad garden. When we did begin the mulching, the results easily were worth the time, effort and expense. Following the last hilling of the glads, we use marsh hay or straw, as available, and completely fill in the three foot spacing between the double rows. No mulching is applied within the twelve inch spacing of our glads. For the beginner, the mulch could consist of grass clippings or other materials available to provide for his planting of fifty or less glads. The mulch will help keep the soil moist, provide consistent growth and enable movement in the garden following rainy weather.

Now that the gladiolus bulbs are planted and growing well for you, your next concern will be to properly care for them during the growth stage, spiking stage, and flowering stage. My next concern will be to provide you with some tips and methods that have worked well for us. That, hopefully, will be made available in the Summer issue of the N.A.G.C. Bulletin; that is, if this article reaches our good editor, Lee Fairchild, in time for publication in the Spring issue.

Glads are a wonderful thing. Growing them is a wonderful thing. Enjoying them growing in your own garden is a wonderful thing.

Good planting and growing to all of you in this Spring of 1983.

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SPRING 1983