Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 8/21/2005

Question
We live in central Ontario, Canada.  Our zone is 4-5.  Is it neccesary to remove gladiola bulbs in the fall and replant them every spring?

Answer
Yes, gladiola corms are not winter hardy and will die when exposed frost in the winter. You can dig the corms in late fall after the green leaves die back. Cut the stems back to soil surface and dig and cure the corms on a piece of newspaper at room temperatures for 3-5 weeks. With a short, sturdy knife seperate the old corm from the new corm. The old corm is below and the new corm grow above. Discard the old corm and replant the new corm in spring.
The seperated corms should be stored frost free, but as cool as possible; preferably with good ventilation.

Here is a good article on gladiolus care:
http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/horticulture/g852.htm

Here is a good a good picture showing how to seperate the new corm from the old:
(the picture is at the bottom of the article)

http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g06620.htm#two


Most people treat gladiola as annuals and relant with newly purchased corms in spring, although digging and storing the corms is not hard at all.


Good luck