The corms are planted at a distance of 30 cm and at 5 cm depth. Topdress the crop with 50 kg N, 45 days after planting, and earth up. Best season for planting is September-November.

After the planting is finished, cover the soil with straw or small branches. This is to keep the structure of the soil in good condition, to avoid surface panning, to keep the soil wet and to avoid excessive high soil temperature.

Irrigation

The crop has to be irrigated once in two or three days depending upon soil and weather conditions.

Manures and Fertilisers

The plants respond better to organic manure than to artificial fertilizers. After 6 to 8 weeks of planting, the plants may be fed with liquid manure, about once a week.

At the time of the emergence of flower spikes, a dressing of about 2.5 cm thick layer of leaf mould is beneficial in producing better flowers with stronger spikes and better development of corms.

Depending on the macro nutrients content of the soil apply N-P-K after the formation of forth leaf. Always irrigate after fertilising.

Intercultural operations

1. Earthing: After about 6 to 8 weeks of planting, the plants may be earthed up.

2. Staking: After the emergence of flower spikes, they may be staked, so that the spikes do not fall down when there is a strong wind. However, staking is not necessary when the plants are grown closely or in clumps, and it is not needed in the case of miniature, butterfly or primulinus gladioli. Care should be taken not to injure the leaves at any stage as the injury is harmful to the plants.

3. In some varieties the corms form two sprouts. Cut one of them at ground level once the second leaf has formed