non flowering gladioli

last year I planted lots of gladioli this year the same, interspacing with the previous ones, thinking I would have a lovely display, so far zilch. thing is I have tried to make a herbacious border out of a corner of the garden that has a small wood/coppice at the back of it and 3 really big trees in the border which I cant get rid of, a cherry, a wild plum and another that I dont know what it is, we cleared out a lot of small trees and rubbish 2 years ago to make this, lots of other things are growing quite happily either in the ground or in pots I have fed them with a good general fertiliser as with everything. Any thoughts would be appreciated

thanks

jenn

 

It's still quite early for glads isn't it??

 

thanks for reply chopper, Im not expecting them to be in flower but no thickening or signs of flowers, Im wondering if the trees are making a problem, had the same source of bulbs last year and they flowered in another situation in the garden

jenn

 

Im growing glads for the first time ever. Mine are beginning to thicken up now.

Did your leaves bend over in the big storms last month?

I was concerned at the time when some of the midribs snapped, but the plants all seem ok now.


Also- silly question, I think I was too conservative when planting the glads in pots in the spring. I put in 6 per pot, and am now vaguely considering tipping them all out and sticking them 12 per pot. Is that as dim an idea as I think it is? Disturbing roots etc?

 

Jenn, they don`t flower until July/August time, but I think the problem is you are planting them too deep. Also,you are supposed to lift glads in the autumn, not leave them overwinter.

 

Hi Jenn
The trees may be a problem well not the trees but the roots, Gladioli like a open soil and tend to need a good root run, the tree roots will be taking a lot out of the soil and will hold back your Glads, plus if you left the corms in the ground over winter they do tend to take longer to get going and lets be honest it was not one of the better winters we have had.
Bob

 

Hi Melinda
I wouldnt disturb them now as the new corm will be forming ontop of the old one, so you will do more damage then good by moving them around now.
Bob

 

Cheers for the confirmation Bob, it was just an idle thought!

 

thanks bob and daith, trouble is there are too many trees in our 'garden' we have cut down a lot, not big ones but second and third years saplings from the original ones but we still have over 100 trees plus a small wood, its a real nightmare, a lot of them are gruit, ie 20 apple the same of cherries and plums but a lot are beech etc. the people who were here before us didnt do a damned thing just left 'nature' to itself, well everyone knows the old girl neds a bit of a hand so it was a complete wilderness as you will see from our pics. anyway thanks so much for the advice, well see what happens

jenn