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Gladioli not flowering?

GraysGrays Posts: 172
in Plants
Hi all,
I planted some gladioli bulbs last year, and so far we just have green growth that has come through, this was about 6 weeks ago.
Is this normal, or will the flowers hopefully come in a short while, hopefully the photo shows the stage they are at.
Cheers.
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Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    It is too early for most Gladioli to flower. August/September is the normal flowering time for most of them.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - too early yet for them.
    Amazing that they've survived winter. You must have a mild climate and nice dry soil. The only ones that overwinter here are the perennial type whose name I've forgotten    :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Gladiolus communis byzantinus? @Fairygirl
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's the one @amancalledgeorge - total brain freeze!  :D
    There's another one as well - begins with  'p' possiby.... 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GraysGrays Posts: 172
    Fairygirl said:
    Yes - too early yet for them.
    Amazing that they've survived winter. You must have a mild climate and nice dry soil. The only ones that overwinter here are the perennial type whose name I've forgotten    :)
    That's got me thinking now Fairygirl..........

    Maybe I am mistaken and we planted them after winter? the memory isn't great these days.....

    Anyway, thanks for the replies, I was just getting concerned that they seemed to have stagnated now for about 6 weeks, but if its normal for the flowers to arrive later, then great!
  • PoppypussPoppypuss Posts: 143
    Its possible they have come through the winter if you have dry soil, this could also mean they are a bit slower to show flowers, a bit like dahlias left in the ground instead of being lifted. Mine are just the normal glads, bought as annuals early 2022 but now in second year and just starting to show flower spikes. Its given me a dilemma as I treated as annuals, planting other things on top in the spring!
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited June 2023
    I saw some on sale for half price in spring and planted them in a spare bit at the end of the dahlia bed - grown for pollinators and cutting for the house.

    The first flower stalk appeared about 10 days ago and has been very busy with bees and hoverflies.   A second has just appeared.   No doubt the others will follow in their own time.

    Your foliage looks good and healthy so I'd agree with everyone else - patience.  i've had dahlias in flower here for a month too - way ahead of cooler, wetter UK areas.
    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)."
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  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    The deer ate my flowers last year. I left the bulbs, and planted new bulbs from Lidl in Spring. They are all growing, I don't expect them to flower  for another six weeks yet.
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    Mine are like yours right now, no sign of flowers yet which is perfectly fine. They've been in the ground for a couple of years now.
    Once the flowers do appear though, I do encourage my wife to cut them for the house before they topple over.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I treat gladioli as annuals now. After their first year they seem to produce thousands of bulbils and the parent bulb decreases in size. Like tulips a few might produce flowers in the following years so not worth bothering with. I plant new bulbs each year, mine this year are in full leaf but no sign of flower buds yet. Too early.
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