The blooming season can be stretched by making succession plantings, by planting bulbs of several sizes, and by using varieties which take different lengths of time to mature. Care after planting Start shallow hoeing when first leaves come through the ground. Glads suffer when forced to compete with weeds. Eliminate weeds early in the season. The worst insect enemy is the gladiolus thrip, a very tiny, black, winged insect It sucks the juice from the plant, and leaves a silvery appearance at first and then causing them to turn brown.
Thrips also cause deformed flowers and prevent man, flower spikes from opening at all.
Thrips on bulbs should be killed before planting. In the garden, start dusting or spraying with Fungicide when leaves are six inches tall. Water is very important-in fact, it's usually the greatest single factor in success full gladiolus growing. Rain seldom supplies enough moisture so make sure the bed get an inch of water every week. Cutting the flowers Cut the flower spikes ordinarily when only one or two flowers are open.