Started Gladiolus at the wrong time — lessons learned

I planted Gladiolus at entirely the wrong point in the growing calendar and spent the first few months wondering what I'd done wrong. bulb rot from waterlogging in poorly drained soil didn't help matters. Once I understood lifting and drying tender bulbs before autumn frosts things improved substantially.

some of the earliest colour in the garden after winter is what makes this plant worth persisting with. In a mixed border with later-emerging perennials to hide dying foliage it finally looks as good as I'd imagined. earliest crocuses and snowdrops emerging in late winter redeemed the whole effort. If you're starting out: do your timing research before you plant.