Gladiolus Mon Amour

[Dazed_Lily]

http://www.americanmeadows.com/bulb_detail.cfm?itemid=900

I'm not one to buy bulbs at the grocery store OR to be taken in by a photo on a box BUT I couldn't walk away from this one . And 10 corms for 2.95 sounded reasonable. I was going to put them in the window box until I read that they grow to 6 feet !
It is kind of early but I am starting a 'pile' downstairs where it is cooler(so far have a rose bush, a peony and these glads!).

[sue salley]

WOW! I've never seen anything like it. If I see some of those I will have to buy them. I'm not a big glad fan but that is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. My colors too. Send us a pic when they bloom.

[Ann B.]

Aren't they gorgeous? I have never seen those on the market, either. I love the pastel colors.

I used to have quite a few gladiolus, but over the years, they have dwindled. I think partially due to floods partially due to other things. Some still do come up, just not as many.

My favorites are the Tiny Tots because they are not as tall. Our Gulf winds get strong at times, and the bloom stalks will break if not staked.

This year, I am planting some of the tall ones again. I don't try to hybridize them because they are magnificent cut flowers. In fact, they are probably my favorite cut flower.

Gee, I do need to get some more of these started, don't I?

[sue salley]

Here is a picture of my Mon Amour. Thanks Cathy.

[Dazed_Lily]

Sue- How neat to see it doing so well for you. Thank you for the photo ! Your Mon Amour garden must be lovely. :)

I'll be away on vacation until 7/26, I'll be back 'on board' then.
Happy Gardening !

[sue salley]

@ years later they are still fascinating to me. THanks again Cathy.

[Dazed_Lily]

Oh My ! You have a Green thumb ! They are lovely !

[Ann B.]

Really GOOD pictures, Sue!!!!

Honestly, I need to plant more Gladiolus....

[sue salley]

We have really enjoyed these glads. They are right by the front door so get lots of attention.
My daughter bought me a pack of yellow and a pack of purle glads this spring. I fooled around trying to find a place for them til later. So we put them in a huge pot. They are a couple of feet tall now and I am looking forward to some late blloms on those. I'll try to get a picture when they bloom.

[Dazed_Lily]

I'm smiling as I read this thread. Today I bought a box of Mon Amour glad bulbs. What I'm smiling about is that I paid 2.99 for 8 and kind of thought that's what I paid the last time. Apparently, like coffee and canned veggies, they are packing less and charging more. 2.95 for 10 back in 2006. Well, it's not that much of a diff.
But I must say Sue Salley has the gift of glad growing. I hope I can do as well this year.

[haweha]

I planted 7 each of "Priscilla" and "Mon Amour" into 10 Liter buckets, in the Middle of April.
Constantly heeding my own advices on pot culture that this includes
- substrate mixture based on or including a large portion of CoCo fibers
- administering lukewarm water, daily, exclusively from the bottom
- including dilute liquid feeding with water
the leaf fans have grown amazingly high, particularly "Priscilla" are close to 1 meter - unbelievable
Interestingly, "Mon Amour" are considerably "weaker". The broad leaves of "Priscilla" are real "SWORDS", showing strictly upright; the leaves of "Mon Amour" are thinner, and they have a tendency to bend down.
These are my very first Gladiolas, thus I direct a particular attention to them and to their welfare respectively. I guess that the peak heights of the flowerspikes will finally surpass 150 cm, at least in "Priscilla".

[abbyjen]

This is the first time I came across this thread and am mesmorised by Mon Amour's beauty
- It is just so beautiful Sue - thanks for sharing those superb pictures with us. :)

Haweha you will have to post yours when they come to bloom.

Cathy no doubt about you - you sure are a good shopper :D

[haweha]

The "Mon Amour" are yet to reveal their spikes. I can sense them by my hand, within the leaf fans.
I assume, that nobody will object, if in the meantime, I include the other cultivar and the very result
"Priscilla" have fully elongated their spikes, 8 to 12 florets each.
Peak height of the strongest scape is 130 cm.
The flowers are so beautiful, and every flower has a different, individual shape.
Enjoy!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/haweha/6497.jpg

[haweha]

Has anyone bothered themselves, and procreated Dutch Garden Gladiolas by seeds? I shall do, and I already had this in mind when I purchased the corms.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/haweha/6501.jpg

[abbyjen]

Hans :)
They are absolutely gorgeous :ok: Absolutely love the darker edge
Are you planning to cross Priscilla with Mon Amour ?

Sue :)

Your Mon Amour is magnificent

[haweha]

Although the hover flies would steal the bulk of pollen, I managed to self pollinate all the flowers.
Great spectacle out of just 7 spikes, that is inclining towards its end right now:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/haweha/6523.jpg

I saved some anthers, and put them at ambient temperature in the dark. The spikes of "Mon Amour" are just revealing themselves, and these are dainty as compared to "Priscilla"
Two of them can be seen 6 o'clock in
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/haweha/6522.jpg

I think that it is really one good suggestion: IF you can get "Priscilla" next season then DO NOT HESITATE and purchase a dozend or so of this "classic" Gladiola

[abbyjen]

Wow!!
They look beautiful en masse

[abbyjen]

Wohooo!!
Guess who found some Priscilla on eBay ?

I've been tempted and bought - hope I am able to display equally as beautiful pix soon.

Any tips on growing Gladioli ?

[haweha]

"Priscilla" - to my surprise I detected these as "prevailing" in several gardens. I assume that it is one of the cultivars that bloom early.
As to tips I suggest to plant them deeper as generally recommended, actually heavier spikes from good, thick corms tend to tumble over that this might even break the connection to the corm. Alternatively you can add some soil level around the corms.

"Mon Amour" in Germany!
With seed pods on spikes of "Priscilla" in the background.
31 seed pods x 30 seeds = 930 seeds YIKES!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/haweha/6552.jpg

[haweha]

"Mon Amour" is a stunner
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/haweha/6556.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/haweha/6567.jpg

[abbyjen]

WOW!!!!
"Mon Amour" is absolutely gorgeous :yes2:

I cannot get over all the seeds you are going to have from "Priscilla" - did you self them or cross them with something else ?

Beside "Priscilla" I also purchased some mixed bulbs so that I may have something to cross them with.

Any idea how long it takes from seed to bloom ?

Thanks for the growing tip - I suppose it may be an idea to plant them next to a trellis so one is able to tie them up.

[haweha]

Although the hover flies would steal the bulk of pollen, I managed to self pollinate all the flowers of "Priscilla" (see above).
According to some general remarks on the internet, SOME of the corms out of seedlings, will produce maiden blooms in the 2nd year. The bulk should bloom out of 2 y old corms though.

For unknown reason, one spike of "Mon Amour" broke off.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/haweha/6577.jpg

[abbyjen]

Sad that it broke but it sure looks good in front of the curtain

Hope you get a lot of beautiful babies :)