Gladiolus Growing Guide
Growing Gladiolus is easier than you think. This guide walks you through everything you need — from planting your first seed to harvesting.
At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Flower
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Tender
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -7°C
Plant Family
Iridaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
Also grows well as
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Plant corms about 12cm deep after the last frost, in full sun. Stagger plantings every 1–2 weeks for continuous cut flowers.
Tall, dramatic flower spikes that are a cut-flower favourite. Unlike spring bulbs, gladiolus corms are planted in SPRING (after the last frost) for summer flowers, because they're frost-tender. The pro trick: plant a few corms every couple of weeks from spring into early summer for a long, staggered run of spikes. In cold-winter climates, lift and dry the corms in autumn and store them frost-free; in mild climates they can stay in the ground.
When To Start
First Chance to Plant
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Last Chance to Plant
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When should you plant Gladiolus?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Gladiolus Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
The Journey Ahead
Gladiolus's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 1
Prepare Your Space
12 cm
Seeding Depth
15 cm
Plant Spacing
30 cm
Row Spacing
Vertical Growing
No.
Succession Planting
Yes – plant corms every 1–2 weeks in spring for a long season.
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Full sun, decent soil, and support for the tall spikes are all gladiolus ask.
- 2Plant in succession for months of flowers rather than one big flush.
- 3The key chore in cold climates is lifting and storing the tender corms over winter — let them dry a couple of weeks first, dust off soil, and keep them airy and frost-free.
- 4Watch for thrips, which streak the flowers.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
120 cm
Mature Height
15 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
When to Pick
Blooms mid-late summer; a classic long-lasting cut flower
How to Harvest
- 1For the vase, cut when the lowest 1–3 florets are open — the rest open up the spike over days.
- 2Leave at least four leaves on the plant so the corm refuels.
- 3Tall types need staking.
- 4In autumn, after the foliage yellows (or after first frost in cold areas), lift the corms, dry them, snap off the old shrivelled corm beneath, and store the new one somewhere cool, dry and frost-free.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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