Expert: Eric Barninger - 8/3/2007

Question
QUESTION: My new neighbor next door has several gladiolas that have just bloomed and was wanting to get rid of some.  Is it okay to transplant them now in my garden?  Also how long do gladiolas bloom?  Can you still plant gladiola bulbs and have them bloom  now?  I live in Indianapolis, Indiana and we are supposedly considered a 5B, I think.  Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Sharon Fahrner


ANSWER: Hi Sharon

Yes you can transplant them now......But like any other plant water them for a week just so they can survive the transplant shock   ok.......and if I were you i would double mulch them this year just in case the winter is harsh this year and to insure they live for next year ok.

Glads bloom from mid summer to fall...........they are beautiful huh?

eric

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Eric,

Thank you for your quick timely response to my question.  But I thought that I had read your response to a question someone gave, concerning planting bulbs now, and that the glads would still grow at this time?  Also read something about "planting flush, or flush planting", I'm not sure?  I have never heard of this, could you let me know about these two questions?  

Thank you so much.

Sharon Fahrner ,

Answer
Hi again:
 How are you. and your welcome for your timely response, I try to be as quick as possible.lol

Anyway, yes your glads will still grow, and like I said you can transplant them now as well, my glads are growing and doing fine. There are bulbs for spring bloom, summer bloom, and fall bloom, and when it gets towards the end of the growing season you have to start thinking about what bulbs,if any, you would like to have for next years bloom.

Example:....I want very late winter, early spring bulb, Crocus, to bloom next year, what I will do is to plant them in October or early November, that way they will winterize and get the nutrients they need for the BIG bloom of the following year lol...........you can accually plant bulbs any time you like.....

Oh yeah, here is a little trick I learned, thought you might like it. I dig a nice big hole,(for tullips) and have the hole approx. 4 to 6 inches deep, and I take 2 to 3 bags of bulbs and dump them into the hole, making sure to stand the bulbs upright, water and feed them, and when they bloom, it's amazing. Alot of gardeners will tell you not to do this, but I have pictures to prove that no ill effects happen to the bulbs........VERY NICE.

Ok, What I think "flush planting" means, is when your transplanting a seedling, you have to plant the seedling, or plant for that matter, at the same depth that it was growing, making the dirt from the plant level with the dirt in the surrounding ground.....:)  hope this helps

need anything else, I'm always here........ok

sincerely

ERIC