The Sunday Times June 5, 2022 213 4 5 67 8 9shrinking violet. If you too
find them threatening I
recommend the smaller
species gladioli, which I fell for
while studying horticulture;
they transcend mere fashion.
I like to dot these into a mixed
border or group several
together in pots.
It took me longer to
appreciate the larger showy
types, which I only really
started growing a few years
ago, adding more varieties
annually in the cut-flower
beds of my walled kitchen
garden. I favour those with
solid colours and not too
many white flecks on the
lower petals, and plant the
corms deeply in businesslike
rows, ensuring they’re in
well-drained soil — adding
horticultural sand is ideal. I
leave them in situ over winter,
often sowing a fast-maturing
catch crop of radishes to make
best use of the space until the
new leaves and stems emerge.
As for cut flowers, I’m
completely won over — if you
want scale and impact,
nothing quite does what a few
stems of gladioli do in an
arrangement. Staggering the
planting from April until the
beginning of June ensures
flowers for months. They’re
long lasting in a vase, and as
the lower blooms on each
stem begin to fade, snap them
off and the rest will open
higher up. Admittedly I
haven’t yet planted these
showstoppers in the main
ornamental areas, although
I’m tempted to rise to the
challenge next year. A grove
of glorious gladioli beckons.WHAT TO GROW
1 Gladiolus ‘Le Chic’ With
large scarlet flowers, this is
a strident variety for
maximum impact. The stems
can reach 120cm, giving
plenty of options for large
arrangements.2 G. x colvillii ‘The Bride’
This species has elegant
white flowers in May, with a
hint of pale, yellowish green
in the centre of each petal.3 G. ‘Mon Amour’ This was
one of my favourites last
summer. With flowers in a
soft blend of lilac-pink, tinged
with pale green, it would make
a romantic addition to any
wedding scheme.4 G. ‘Indian Summer’
Slightly odd to some,
intriguing and offbeat to
others, this blend of dusky
mauve and peach just might
make this variety “the one
to grow”.5 G. ‘Amsterdam’ Look no
further for a really good, tall,
large-flowered white variety.
A surefire hit for weddings,
it’s a staple for pale-coloured
arrangements.6 G. ‘Velvet Eyes’ Blending
deep purple and crimson,
this tall variety is one I’ve yet
to try, but it is firmly on my
wish list to buy this year.7 G. communis subsp.
byzantinus A dazzling species
with vivid magenta flowersthat manage to combine
delicacy of form with plenty
of oomph in terms of colour.8 G. ‘Evergreen’ My favourite
of the green-flowered
varieties, this is a fabulous
foil to the full spectrum of
other colours and is
particularly good in an “all
white” arrangement.9 G. ‘Mahler’ A tall variety
with papal-purple flowers
on strong stems. Popular
with florists, it’s a rich and
regal choice.10 G. ‘Espresso’ This
sumptuous variety bears silky
flowers of rich burgundy on
stems close to 1m tall, which
open in succession from
near-black buds. The dark
colour is invaluable for mixing
with dusky pinks or fiery
oranges and reds.SUPPLIERS
lfarmergracy.co.uk
lpheasantacreplants.co.uk
lsarahraven.com10