2007-02-23 16:06:45 · 5 answers · asked by rosy w 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
A plant's hardiness can be measured by the "annual average minimum temperature" (AAMT) at which it can survive. The USDA has conveniently separated North America into 11 plant hardiness zones. This gives us an idea what plants can be grown in what locales.
Richmond is located in zone 7. Zone 7 comprises an area where the AAMT is 10 - 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Most varieties of gladiolas are hardy to zone 7 and can usually be over wintered outside without concern. However, if by chance we have an unusually cold winter with temps falling below 0 degrees F., the gladiolus corms could be killed.
Personally, I leave my glads outside. But if you have some valuable specimens, they can easily be lifted in the fall after the foliage has died back. Brush off as much soil as possible and allow them to dry out for a couple of days before storing them in in a packing material such sphagnum peat. Don't allow the bulbs to touch during storage as if one begins to rot it will spread to the others. Storage temperatures should range within 35-45 degrees F.
2007-02-23 16:09:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on how deep the ground freezes, more than just your zone.
Two people can live in Zone 8, but if one only gets short frosts and the ground seldom freezes solid, they can leave them in the ground. If you live in an area that gets long periods of freezing weather, even if you don't get any colder in absolute terms, you might need to pull them even if some other areas in Zone 8 do not.
You can alway help your own cause by mulching heavily in the fall, then removing some of the mulch in the spring. It all depends which is less work for you.
A bonus tidbit of information is some folks will plant their bulbs in a trench lined with chicken wire, nylon netting, or hardware cloth. In the fall, they will yank out all the bulbs by just pulling up the netting or wire fencing.
Same information applies to cannas and other semi-tender bulbs.
2007-02-24 00:24:50 · answer #2 · answered by Deke 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I live in zone 6. They have been in the ground for 8 years and still bloom.
2007-02-24 01:03:36 · answer #3 · answered by Bigdog 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends where you live.....
If north of say, Tennessee, yes.
2007-02-24 00:12:03 · answer #4 · answered by die_laffing 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope
2007-02-24 00:13:32 · answer #5 · answered by kate 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋