How To Lift and Store Gladioli Corms / Bulbs, Storing Gladioli Over Winter, Overwintering Gladioli Corms, Get Gardening
Gladioli corms really don't like sitting in cold, wet soils over the winter and so it is at this time of year, October, that I look to lift the plants from the ground.
Tools required;
Border fork or hand fork
As Gladioli will readily produce small offspring cormlets, that are attached to the main new corms, you don't want to try to pull the plants out of the ground. If you try to pull the plants from the ground you will find that the stems break. Instead, use a border fork or hand fork to gently lift the whole root structure and corm from the ground. A fork is a much safer option than trying to use a spade.
Insert the fork a few inches away from the base of the plant, pushing the fork tines into the soil by about 6 inches (20cm). Gently lever the fork handle downwards to loosen the Gladioli from the ground. Watch for any of the small cormlets falling off from the main corms.
Place all dug up Gladioli onto a clean surface or into a container where you will notice if any parts of the corm, or cormlets, come free from the main plant base.
Whilst this years Gladioli plant grew from a corm it actually produces a new corm on top of that which it grew from. The older corm will become part of the waste material at a later date, with the top corm and stem being the parts to retain for growing the following year.
Cut the main plant stem down to a length of 2.5-3 inches (8-10cm) above the base corm.
Place these cut sections upside down into a container to allow any excess moisture to drain out of the stem and roots, whilst also allowing the corms to harden. Any remaining soil still on the roots will also dry out and fall off.
The container needs to be placed in a dry position, preferably somewhere that is warm but a shed or garage is normally fine.
Leave the stems to dry for 2 or 3 weeks.
Once the plants and roots have dried out;
Start by removing any of the small cormlets that have formed around the base of the main corm. These cormlets can be put to one side for growing on over the subsequent years, to produce extra plants.
Holding the main stem and new corm that the stem is growing from, use your thumb or other hand to prise off the older corm and attached roots. It is this old corm and root structure that is not required, so discard accordingly.
Give the corm and stem a gentle brush down to remove any remaining soil.
Use a suitably sized container that has a lid, and fill the inside base and around the edges with some fresh newspaper. The newspaper will aid in moisture absorption as well as providing some insulation.
Cut down the plant stem to leave it about 1cm in length, above the corm.
Place the clean corm, complete with attached stem, upside down in the container to store for the winter period until you look to plant again in March/April.
Make sure to place the lid firmly on the container but add some ventilation holes.
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