A Glad Bed All of Your Own
Well before babies, before cooking, even before working out, came gardening. Again, Martha Stewart enters the room. I remember studying the TV so closely while drinking my coffee in the mornings, watching as she taught her viewers in depth the importance of soil, drainage, sunlight, and the sheer beneficial value of having something you grew from a tiny seed or bulb, and nurture it as it becomes the beautiful bud and bloom that you, yourself brought to life to thrive. It really is magnificent. I know I sound like an old lady but it truly is, y’all.
From herbs to nasturtiums, from Peggy Martin roses to Gladiolus-- they each hold a key to unlocking our own creativity while getting our hands dirty in that rich soil.
One of my personal favorites is Gladiolus. Their long stalks form into the most beautiful tall row of blooms that make any flower bed look like a UK tea garden. For real!
Now, with their beauty comes a tedious responsibility to make sure the wind doesn’t blow them over and snap their little stalks.
A wide-brimmed hat and a knee cushion are the perfect matches when taking this dive. But also, not without your other important necessities, like:
A vacant rectangular concrete bed with drainage- size 23”x12x12
Link here: https://a.co/d/fUj3utp
Flower Pot Soil: Miracle Grow has a good product. I like to mix mine with soil under our grass-- you know, the kind that has the big earthworms?
I do this to strengthen the soil because only potting mix will not give much integrity to your gladiolus stalk.
Having a combination of both will hold up nicely in a summer thunderstorm.
In your yard (if you have one) is another rich place where you can plant them.
Use flower bed soil from Miracle Grow to enrich the soil even more.
Gladiolus Bulbs:
You can find glad bulbs all over, usually in the spring. Home Depot or Lowes, even Costco sometimes! You can also find premium growers online that will blow your mind.
Garden Stakes:
Twine and scissors
In your flowerbed, create little trenches to nestle your glad bulb inside. Set your first row of glad bulbs together and space them about 2 inches apart.
Water every day or as needed. It takes about 14 days for the bulbs to sprout.
As the sun warms the bed to a temperature of 75 degrees, the action begins. The gladiolus flower is native to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, so she likes the sun.
After sprouting, each day the glad will get taller and taller. Once the threat of snapping comes, carefully stake them using the twine.
Be attentive to pests that can ruin your soil and even eat the stalks. She requires much supervision, but when you find her rhythm, she’ll sing in your heart forever.
