Lifting And Storing Gladiolus Corms

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 6

Lifting And Storing Gladiolus Corms

Although gladioli seem to be remaining green somewhat longer than usual this year it is best to leave them alone until the colour begins to fade from the leaves.

Once they start yellowing they can be lifted. The longer the growing season, the larger will be the new corms which form on the top of the old ones while the flowering is developing. As new corm-sizes and their satisfactory maturity jvill influence the flowering next year, every effort should be made to allow full corm development. Food material produced by the leaves is used to build up the young cormlets and later also stored within them. Once flowers have faded the flower stems should be cut off so that seed formation is inhibited, an otherwise wasteful discharge of food reserves. Occasionally where gladioli have been interplanted they begin to look unsightly after flowering has ceased, so it may be advisable to lift and replant them temporarily elsewhere. This should be done carefully to avoid destroying the roots. Once the tops have yellowed the plants can be lifted

and the tops tied together in bunches. When the tops have browned they can be readily parted from the corms. At this stage the new corms should be detached from the remains of the old ones and the spawn or tiny cormlets the size of a pea collected. All debris removed is best incinerated to kill any pest or disease. If thrips have been troublesome, dusting with D.D.T. is advocated. Where disease has been prevalent the corms should be dipped in a proprietary bulb dip for the recommended length of time and then quickly dried. The scaly covering on the corms should be pulled back on a few of the corms in order to detect disease symptoms, which will resemble black or brown scars. Any showing these discolorations, or which are at all soft, should not be retained. Corms should then be stored in shallow boxes which should be appropriately labelled and kept in a frost-free, airy place until required again for replanting in spring. Before planting, corms should again be thoroughly examined and dipped in a mixture of captan and lindane.