19 GLADIOLUS Garden gladiolus are, next to dahlias, the best-known cut flowers of the summer with a high value on the market. They are usually sold through flower shops, market traders or direct marketers for self-cutting. Today's commercial varieties are the result of crosses between African and European wild species. The perennial organ is a flat tuber, which forms over the old tuber every year. An unbranched flower stalk in the form of a spike with bag-shaped flowers pushes out of the sword-shaped leaves. All flower colours are possible except black and brown and the flower edges can be smooth or wavy. Here is a rule of thumb: the larger the tuber, the faster the sprouting. But even smaller tubers produce good qualities if the plants are kept well moist and optimally supplied with fertiliser, as they have a high demand for nutrients. Gladiolus do not tolerate dry periods. Annually changing the cultivation area is a prerequisite for healthy plants. Gladioli develop best in warm locations protected from the wind. They are ready for cutting when the lowest flower shows its colour.
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