Gladioli bulbs- question

[Peek]

I have a few gladdies growing in the border, and when I was tidying up there last week I noticed that the bulb for one of them has come up to the surface of the soil, and on the top of it, 7/8 tiny new bulbs have started to form attached to the original bulb, and they are exposed to the elements. The gladdie in question has 2 new flower heads on, so what should I do about these new bulbs growing ?

[patacake]

The tiny bulbs you describe are "cormels". These can be planted and then allowed to grow on to flowering size. However I have to say I have not had much success. The problem is that most gladdies are not winter hardy and need to be lifted, dried and stored before the frosts get at them.
I did that then planted in the spring but all I got was foliage and no blooms. Perhaps they needed feeding.

[Peek]

Thanks for the info Pat.

Our Gladdies do actually stay in the ground all year, and manage to survive...must be the tropical conditions in the south , where I am.

I wonder if I just cover the "cormels " over with more soil...or perhaps try and nip them off and keep them indoors over the winter free from the frost.

[patacake]

Thanks Peek
Your gladdies seem happy where they are. I think I would just cover them up and let the little bulbs develop. Also I suppose you could break a few off and put them in pots to oversee their progress.
Once again I have dug mine up as our winters in the Midlands can be quite harsh.

[meltemi]

Well down here on the western edge of the fens I would simly give them a covering mulch & leave them to thir own devices as it were. I have clumps of some 12 corms that have been coming up for some 6 years...

[faeryboots]

I just cover mine and leave them Peek.

[smiffy]

MIL used to cover them and leave them. Every so often she would lift and seperate them when they got untidy, and pass a few onto other people. When she did this she then cut the leaves down to about 6 - 12 inches so the root established again.

Good luck!