Give your borders into the summer spirit with the help of gorgeous gladioli. They provide a real lift in a planting scheme – they’re upright and impressive with big blooms available in almost every colour or the rainbow. Whatever your style, you can find a gladiolus variety which will fit in comfortably. They’re remarkably easy to grow too, all they need is a sunny spot with well-drained soil. And if you like growing for the vase, you are in for a treat. Glads last very well in the vase and won’t need any special treatment to do so even if you pick them just as the first buds start showing colour.

Gladiolus planting basics

Before planting your bulbs, add plenty of compost or well-rotted manure to the soil. If you have poorly drained soil, the added mulch will help you to build up your beds for better drainage. Plant your gladioli en-masse or dot clusters of bulbs about in mixed borders. Space them about 10cm apart and plant them about 10cm deep.

How to plant Gladiolus bulbs

— Gladiolus are half hardy (apart from Gladiolus byzantinus which is fully hardy) and will grow well if planted directly outside in late spring or started off in a sheltered place in early spring to plant out later in the season. Gladiolus byzantinus can be planted directly outside in spring.

— Grow in borders in full sun and in a free-draining soil. If planting in containers you can use multipurpose compost.

— Plant the bulbs 10-15cm deep with the pointed side facing upwards.

— Space the bulbs around 10cm apart from each other.

— Water-in after planting and continue to water regularly when in full growth. There is no need to water regularly before they start to grow.