That's interesting @Obelixx. I've never thought of leaving them to seed, but I doubt the seed would go on and germinate. Maybe I should leave a few and collect the seed to sow later
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It wasn't anything to do with me @Fairygirl. They attract loads of pollinators so did it all by themselves. Worth having a go at saving seed and sowing indoors but don't expect flowers in their first year.
They self seeded in pots and beds at the front of the Belgian house so south facing and well-drianed but fertile. The pots went in the barn for winter but the ones in beds had to survive temps regularly down to -15C in winter but sheltered from the northerly winds.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
@Slow-worm the smaller Byzantine and acidanthera kinds are dead easy. Just put in a pot or well-drained, sheltered border with decent soil and full sun and they grow.
Last year I found some amber flowered Dame Edna gladioli with orange trim to the petal edges so planted them ina hot border. They all came up pink so this lot, claiming to be deep purple or white with deep pink trim, are going in a cut flower bed till I see if they're lying or not.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Gladioli were just about the only thing in the garden when I moved here ~3 years ago. Clay soil and utter neglect, yet they live on! I dug some up to plant a rose and must have missed some tiny corm offshoots and now I have glads growing through the rose bush.
I also had some at an old home in a much colder climate (zone 6 vs my current zone 8). They came back reliably. In fact I have a friend in zone 6 that farms gladiolus, and she never does any fussing with lifting. I don't even think she feeds them.
You can stagger planting every two or three weeks for a succession of blooms. Obviously only works the first year.
Clay soil and neglect! If my daughter had asked about suitibility instead of just 'well, I liked the colours on the packet' then she wouldn't have had such a nice display.
Well ,after all that, they turned out to be shades of purple! Could've been worse. I bunged them in a long trough with cosmos - which turned out to be a low growing variety so gladdies and cosmos waving gently in the breeze didn't quite turn out but I'm happy enough. I might even try the gladdi and cosmos idea next year with a taller variety
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I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They self seeded in pots and beds at the front of the Belgian house so south facing and well-drianed but fertile. The pots went in the barn for winter but the ones in beds had to survive temps regularly down to -15C in winter but sheltered from the northerly winds.
Last year I found some amber flowered Dame Edna gladioli with orange trim to the petal edges so planted them ina hot border. They all came up pink so this lot, claiming to be deep purple or white with deep pink trim, are going in a cut flower bed till I see if they're lying or not.
I also had some at an old home in a much colder climate (zone 6 vs my current zone 8). They came back reliably. In fact I have a friend in zone 6 that farms gladiolus, and she never does any fussing with lifting. I don't even think she feeds them.
You can stagger planting every two or three weeks for a succession of blooms. Obviously only works the first year.
I might even try the gladdi and cosmos idea next year with a taller variety