GARDENS IN TAUPO

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 93, 30 October 1953, Page 3

GARDENS IN TAUPO

NOTES ON GLADIOLI (By Flora) Having kept our minds on vege-j table growing for nearly a month, j we have surely earned a busman's holiday in our gardens and may! be allowed to turn our thoughts to flowers for a change. Many of you will already have planted at least a few gladioli corms, but just a slight reminder to those who may have put the corms away on the top shelf, and up to now forgotten their existence; Perhaps you may find that already a few have quite long white shoots. Get these planted jmmediately, then plant the rest over a period of weeks, so that you may have them coming into bloom over a long period. This season the Taupo Horticultural and Beautifying Society intend holding an autumn show toward the end of February or early March, so do keep a few of your best corms if possible for later planting, that you may have a few blooms ready about that time. Gladioli specialists say that 90 to 100 days will elapse from the time of planting till the first flower spike opens. I have found, and I think others will agree, that in Taupo it takes a slightly longer time for the plants to reach mat- 1 urity, even up to 112 days. My experience has been with earlier planted corms. Perhaps with later plantings the time will be more in keeping with other districts, but I rather doubt it, as by the later date one most likely will have to contend with dry conditions, unless one has an unlimited water supply and the time to use it. Gladioli will grow in any welldrained soil, preferably rich in humus. As in planting all bulbous subjects, be sure to keep any animal manure well down, so that it will not come in contact with the newly planted bulb or corm. But the addition of humus is necessary as gladioli growers tell us that with light soils the emphasis must be at retaining moisture at the roots, for the plants must not dry out during their growing period. The gladioli delight in an open sunny position, and they may be grouped with effect in the herbaceous border or in a bed by themselves.

Having chosen your site, open up trenches about eight inches deep, scatter a dressing of bonedust or basic slag and mix with the soil. Bonedust is one of the safest manures for all bulbs, it is slow acting and provides the phosphate necessary for good floweririg. Place the corms six inches apart and fill in the trench. Some growers advo- j cate the planting of the corms in a two inch layer of sand. This keeps the corm clean and discourages rot due to dampness, though this trouble is not liable to be experienced in our well-drained soil. The gladioli unfortunately is subject to several diseases, the commonest being known as Scab. This can be controlled by soaking the corms in a solution of Aretan. Some exhibition growers apply additional fertiliser just as the flower spike is forming. They recommend three parts super phosphate, one part sulphate of ammonia, one part sulphate of potash. There are many lovely varieties you may choose from, but do include a few Primulinus Hybrids. These have been obtained by crossing a comparitively small species from Africa with the large flowered garden kinds. With their small flowers of all imaginable shades, nicely distributed on thin stems, they are very suitable for cutting, not being at all stiff nor heavy.