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Gladiolus sown indoors - when to plant out?
alexemmersonuk
Posts: 171
in Plants
I planted some gladiolus bulbs (see pics) in a pot indoors a few weeks ago and I'm just wondering if they're ready to go outside. How do I know, in general, when any seeds that have been sown indoors are ready to go outside? (I have quite a few other bits, mostly flowers)- THanks!
Growing a pink garden, one plant at a time....
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Most gladioli aren't fully hardy, so you'd need to wait until the risk of frost has passed. You can put them outside for a while each day and in at night in the week leading up to that.
There's a couple of hardier ones, so it would help if you know what type they are.
It's the same for seeds. You'd need to be sure they're grown on enough to withstand outdoor conditions. When they're pricked out, and growing well in their own pots, they'd be ready to go outside, but again - it depends on the conditions, and what type of plant they are. Hardy ones can often be outside in April. Half hardy ones would be later- end of May or June.
If you're unsure, it's better to be cautious.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
this makes a lot of sense, thanks. I'm in Norfolk, East UK and I have just checked the weather for my post code and the very lowest it's going to get in March is 4, so I think risk of frost may have passed for us.
So, I;m thinking, I'll put them outside but bring them indoors at night for the next couple of weeks just in case, then I should be OK to leave them out.
I just read somewhere else that they can struggle in pots as the corms need to grow very deep to sustain the height better (one of mne from another windowsill is already 42 cm high!!!), so I am guessing they need either their own MUCH DEEPER pot or they need to grow in the ground. Would you agree?
Are they the little Acidantheras? If so, it's wet, cold soil that does for them, so it's worth trying to keep them out of the weather as much as you can. A house wall is often the best spot. If you're putting those in the ground, pick the best site you can. Mine wouldn't go out until May at least because of that. If I put them in the ground, they're in the raised beds, and the sunniest bit of the garden to help with that.
Gladioli of any kind need a fair bit of depth, and they certainly get to a good size, so support is important. Most folk do have them in the ground, where it's easier because other planting gives support, but if you want to keep them potted, it's worth putting in supports of some kind - right from the start.
It's always harder to try and do it when the foliage is taking over, and you can't get into them properly. Most of us have been there at some point
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I wouldn't trust a last frost notification, doesn't work here. Dove is in your region, perhaps she could help.
OK so how about this for a plan....
STEP 1: Re-pot into a much deeper pot as they really need some depth and I think this is getting quite urgent.
STEP 2: Start acclimatising very gently by just placing pots outside in a sunny sheleterd spot (or cold frame?) from midday to dinner time?
STEP 3: Plant them outside late April / beginning of May somewhere sunny next to other plants (I have a lot of lupins that will need to go in soon too,.....)
thank you, that;s my front garden that you can see and it's big and calm. The back garden is where all the pots and colour are based :-)
@Dovefromabove is in Norfolk, as Nanny Beach says, so she might be able to give advice as to temps.
I haven't even planted the new Acidantheras I bought yet. I'll get them into pots soon, and they'll be there until late May, in the house or the small greenhouse [mine isn't warm enough to be able to put them out there right away] and only going outside for a while each day if they're growing well and it's warm enough. The rain is the biggest problem here, as wet cold is the worst thing for them.
That's why location and climate is so important as to getting anything outside.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I was hoping to keep them in pots this year, yes, as we may be moving this summer and it would be easier to take my garden with me if they were in pots
@Fairygirl
Thanks for the advice. I've just repotted them into a much taller pot (they really needed it I think), but I'll keep them indoors for a while longer.
I am a relative beginner, so I am really helpful for the advice!