Can you grow gladiolas from the seed pods that develop on the stalks? If so how?

Question

Can you grow gladiolas from the seed pods that develop on the stalks? If so how?

Answer 1

If the plant sets seeds and they ripen some may well be viable but they will not look like the parent.

Allow the seed pods to ripen so the seed is fully developed before you pick the pods. These seeds respond to warming days so will germinate at about 70F in spring. This means you can put the seed in the ground in very late winter or early spring so they are well moistened when the soil warms up enough for them to germinate. They must not dry out if in open soil outdoors.

To germinate indoors put them between just moist paper towels in a zip lock bag you puffed up so it makes a little green house before sealing. Keep them warm for about a month to 1.5 months but keep checking after four weeks to see if they have sprouted so you can move them to soil. Move them very gently so the roots do not break. I use tweezers. Them sprinkle soil around them and press to firm the soil so it contacts the sprout.

From seed it will take the plant two or three years of growing leaves before it is old enough to produce a bloom.

You will not see the same flowers as the parent plants as they will be hybrids. This is always the exciting part of breeding plants from seed, to see the resulting plant's appearance.

Answer 2

I thought they grew from bulbs