When to dig up gladioli for the winter, timing and rules for storing bulbs

Gladioli are captivating in their beauty, but most gardeners hesitate to grow them due to the difficulties involved in caring for the planting material. Growing techniques include both measures during the growing season and certain autumn procedures that help preserve the ornamental flower until the following season. To ensure the plant graces your flowerbed in your garden or dacha every year, you need to know when to dig up gladioli before frost and also consider the rules for preserving the bulbs over the winter.

Why dig up gladioli?

Gardeners still debate whether it's necessary to dig up this graceful plant for the winter. In southern latitudes, temperatures rarely drop below freezing, meaning the tubers may not need to be removed. During light frosts, simply covering the plantings with plastic wrap, agrospan, or a layer of leaves or sawdust is sufficient.

In the central and northern regions with long and frosty winters, flower tubers can become diseased and freeze.

Therefore, it is essential to dig them up and properly prepare the tubers for winter storage at home.

Planting material for this crop is also susceptible to various diseases, especially pathogenic fungi. Even well-managed overwintering in the ground does not eliminate the risk of infection, which can only be prevented by digging and sorting.

Optimal timing depending on the variety and growing region

When growing gladioli, the most important thing is to time their harvesting correctly. Harvesting the bulbs too early can result in a failure to germinate or bloom next year. Delaying harvesting can lead to cool, damp weather with sudden changes in day and night temperatures, which can lead to disease and bulb death.

Important! It is recommended to dig up the corms only 40-45 days after flowering.

The correct time to harvest gladioli bulbs depends on the variety. Start with the earliest varieties and gradually move on to later-growing gladioli. It's important to focus on varieties with darker colors, especially purple, as this variety is susceptible to fungal infections due to its weak immune system. Dig up the bulblets that are growing in the nursery last; they need enough time to accumulate nutrients.

The timing may also vary depending on the region where the beautiful flowers grow. In temperate climates, it's recommended to dig up early varieties in early September, and late varieties at the end of that month.

In southern latitudes, harvesting should be done from August to October, depending on the plant variety and its flowering period. The key is not to over-soak the tubers. In Siberia, the climate allows for the cultivation of only early varieties, which have time to grow and impress with their magnificent blooms during the short summer period. The plants bloom in September, just before the first frosts. In northern regions, dig up the bulbs when daytime temperatures drop to 0 degrees Celsius.

Tip! If weather conditions prevent the bulbs from being kept in the ground for the required time, they can be left indoors in a cool place with the root ball and foliage for 1 month, and only then stored, after preparation.

Basic rules for digging up flowers

Harvesting the bulbs should begin in warm, sunny, dry autumn weather. Using a shovel, carefully dig up the soil around the plant and gently remove the bulbs by the leaves. If the bulbs are very dirty, rinse them under running water and lay them out to dry.

Then take the pruning shears and cut off all the vegetative mass, leaving a stump 1.5 cm in size.

During digging, any bulbs with severely damaged rhizomes should be destroyed immediately. This bulb could become a source of infection for the others. All old tubers should also be disposed of.

How and what to treat bulbs with for long-term storage

It is not easy to keep the tubers until the next planting season, as they are sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.

The task is feasible if you follow certain rules:

1. Before laying, the material should be rinsed with water and treated with a non-concentrated solution of potassium permanganate.
2. Then place the tubers in gauze bags, having first sorted them by variety, and dip them in a contact fungicide designed for treating bulbs.
3. Then the material is dried.

There is no need to peel the bulbs, as they will provide reliable protection during storage.

Drying

Drying takes an average of two months. To do this, the bulbs are sorted into individual cardboard boxes and placed in a ventilated area at a temperature of 25-30 degrees Celsius.

After 2 weeks, move the tubers to a cooler place and keep them for 1 month at a temperature of 20-21 degrees.

Throughout the drying period, it's important to periodically turn the bulbs and inspect them for signs of disease. If infected bulbs are found, promptly remove them to prevent infection of the remaining tubers.

Storing bulbs

Once the drying period is complete, separate the bulblets from the bulb itself. Before planting, inspect again for any spoiled or diseased tubers. It's best to place the planting material in mesh bags; they're convenient and allow for 24-hour ventilation.

You can also use a paper bag, newspaper, polyethylene mesh, or nylon stockings.

Storage conditions

Properly stored bulbs produce healthy plants with long flowering periods and strong offspring. Therefore, it's important to ensure favorable storage conditions for the bulbs:

• temperature indicators - from +2 to +9 degrees;
• air humidity - 60 percent;
• a dark place to prevent the tubers from sprouting, as light accelerates this process;
• high-quality air circulation in the room; stagnant air increases the likelihood of active mold growth.

It is important to create these conditions, regardless of the room chosen for storing the plant, be it an apartment, a basement, or a cellar.

In the apartment in stockings and bags

When storing in a city apartment, choose locations with temperatures between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius. This could be near a wooden window or balcony door, an unheated storage room, or an area near the front door in the hallway. Overwinter the bulbs in dry sand in a plastic bag to prevent them from drying out. You can also place them in gauze or cotton bags. If you have a large number of bulbs, wrap each one in newspaper and store it in cardboard boxes.

In the refrigerator

The bottom shelf of the refrigerator can also be used for storage, where both bulbs and baby bulbs are well preserved until planting. To do this, wrap each bulb in paper to prevent drying out and wrinkling, then place it in a sizable plastic bag with holes. The advantages of this type of storage include a constant temperature and stable humidity. It's important to regularly inspect the material for any diseased items.

In the cellar

A basement or cellar is the ideal place to store gladioli. These areas should maintain a stable temperature of 4 to 8 degrees Celsius, and humidity should be kept at no more than 65-75 percent to prevent premature sprouting of the bulbs. Storage containers must have holes to allow for unimpeded air circulation.

Important! Avoid placing gladioli near fruits and vegetables, as they rapidly evaporate moisture, which can lead to mold growth.

On the glazed loggia

Another option for protecting bulbs and their offspring in an apartment is a glassed-in balcony. To prevent the material from freezing and maintain optimal humidity, immerse the bulbs in a mixture of clay and water. Afterwards, dry them again and place them in boxes covered with a blanket.

How to protect tubers from diseases and pests

Gladioli are susceptible to infection and pests during storage. Therefore, they require regular inspection. If harmful insects or fungal infections are detected, the following should be done:

1. Burn infected tubers immediately.
2. Minor damage should be cut off with a knife and treated with brilliant green.
3. Disinfect all bulbs with fungicides against fungi and insecticides against various harmful insects. The working solution should be at a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. For best results, soak the bulbs in the solution for 30-40 minutes.
4. After the soaking procedure, dry the material by placing it in a ventilated room for 1-2 weeks.

To protect tubers, you can use the following for preventive purposes:

1. Garlic. Place chopped garlic cloves in containers along with the onions. Replace dried cloves with fresh ones. This will prevent pests like thrips from getting to the tubers.
2. Paraffin. To do this, melt the candle and place the resulting mixture in a double boiler. Dip each bulb in the paraffin, then in water. This will prevent the bulbs from losing moisture and protect them from fungus.

By properly treating the bulbs, you can save even damaged specimens, which can then be used for propagating the crop.

Problems and difficulties during storage

The following difficulties may arise when storing tubers:

1. Gray mold develops due to high humidity. Drying of the material is essential. Don't throw away moldy bulbs; they can be gently wiped with cheesecloth soaked in vodka and dried. This won't affect the quality of the tubers when planted.
2. Thrips infestation. Remove damaged tubers and treat the remaining tubers with chemicals.

If you give your bulbs the attention they deserve, gladioli will delight you with vibrant and abundant blooms for many years to come.