How to Dig Up Gladiolus

When planting gladiolus bulbs, or "corms," the North American Gladiolus Council recommends planting corms obtained from a reliable source. If, instead of purchasing corms, you would rather dig up your own, you can do so with relatively little effort.

Dig up corms after the first frost, advises the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, because they should be allowed to mature before digging them up.

Spade
Garden shears
Wooden trays
Paper bags

Instructions

- 1
  Place the spade tip in the soil near the bottom of the gladiolus plants.
- 2
  Dig the gladiolus corms out gently, pulling the plants upward carefully as you lift them from the ground.
- 3
  Shake the soil from the gladiolus corms; dispose of any damaged corms.
- 4
  Cut off the tops of the plants, approximately 2 inches above the corms.
- 5
  Place the corms in a sunny location to dry for several days.
- 6
  Shake any additional soil from the corms, and place them into wooden trays.
- 7
  Place the wooden trays in a location that maintains a constant temperature between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for two to three weeks.
- 8
  Snap the old corms from the base of the new ones, and discard the old corms. Replace the corms in the wooden tray, and allow them to cure for three more days to aid in formation of a covering on the scar where the corms were broken apart.
- 9
  Place the corms into a paper bag and store them in a cool, low-humidity location with a temperature of approximately 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit until the next planting season.

Perennial Plants in Zone 10

How to Stake Gladiolus

Flower Garden