SUMMER AND AUTUMN FLOWERING BULBS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 75, 25 September 1941, Page 15

SUMMER AND AUTUMN FLOWERING BULBS

I One is apt to associate bulbous plants with the spring only, because it is ai ■that season that narcissi, hyacinths, tulips, freesias, an.* hosts of others are in their glory, and after the rather lean period of winter are more noticed and appreciated. There are, however, many bulbous plants which flower at different times during summer and autumn. First amongst these are gladioli, the conns "of which may be planted now and at intervals till November. By planting at intervals flowers may be had over quite a long period, out the conns should not be kept out of the ground after they show signs of growth. The plants do not all flower at the same time, some being naturally, early and others late, but growth may be retarded somewhat by keeping the conns in a cool, dry place until required for planting. Gladioli are not fastidious as to soil, but prefer a cool root run and fairly rich ground. Avoid stable manure unless it can be worked into the lower, spit of soil well below the conns when they are planted. Gladioli may be used in several ways quite effectively, in jeds by themselves, in conjunction -with dwarf flowers, or as clumps in the mixed border.

necessary, doing better when quite crowded, probably because they then force themselves out .of the ground where they get thoroughly ripened.