Gladiolus Peter Pears

Summer Blooming Bulbs, including popular varieties such as gladiolus and dahlias, are planted in the spring and bloom in the summer. Most of these bulbs are tropical and require warm weather to be planted. There must not be any danger of frost and your ground temperature must have reached 55 degrees Fahrenheit before planting. Many of our summer blooming bulbs can be planted as perennials in zones 9-10 (zone 8 if mulched), but should be treated as annuals in cooler climates. You can lift them and store them in the fall, or bring patio pots inside before frost. See page 15 of our Planting Guide for a bulb depth planting illustration.

Growing Gladiolus: After spring frosts are over, plant the gladiolus corms (bulbs) in your flower bed wherever you want brilliant color in mid-summer. Gladiolus take very little space in the garden and can easily be planted between other plants. After planting, keep the bulbs watered regularly. Soon you’ll have bright sword-like foliage and brilliant blooms. Gladiolus corms are inexpensive, and provide excellent color for the cost. As frost threatens, you can just forget them, and replace them with new bulbs next growing season, or dig up the corms and store them in a cool try place until the following spring.

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View more Planting Guides, or download our complete Planting Guide for tips on caring for your plants when you receive your order, as well as planting instructions for Perennials, Spring-Planted Bulbs, Fall-Planted Bulbs, Cacti & Succulents, Xeric Plants and more.