[Spana]

Anyone have any tips on how to slow down gladioli, show is in 12 days.  They are tight  bud stage now with no colour showing.
thanks

[Yabba]

I don't know how long gladioli take to go from bud to bloom ( with dahlias it's 28 days ), but something we sometimes do is cut them just before they're ready and then keep them in a cool, dark room .... we can only hold them for a couple of days though

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[Spana]

Thanks Yabba Cut them 5 days before the show as the weather forcast was so awful and put them in an out house.  Brought them into the kitchen the day before the show and by the next morning- day of the show- they were perfect.
Got 2nd, well pleased as first time with glads

[Yabba]

Congratulations on your second, next year you'll be top

In all seriousness : glad the advice helped because I know next to nothing about gladioli

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[Spana]

I had thought about picking them early but was afraid to just go for it.
I picked two cauliflowers 5 days before as well and put them in the veg draw of the fridge.  They would have blown if i'd left them.  One went on the tray of six veg and the other went into a class on its own.  Got 1st for both

[Yabba]

Congratulations on your firsts ... bet yer a tad hooked now huh?

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[Spana]

I've been hooked for years. But I enter different classes now to when i started  and I still try a couple of new things every year. Entered 29 classes this year, got 9 1st, 7 2nds  7 3rds.  Won the cup for my eggs and another for best entry in flower section, which was a vase of garden flowers. Every year i say its the last time but as the new year starts I start making plans, cant help myself, and we do all love the day.

[Yabba]

We're normally planning next year whilst we're still saying "nooo ... we're doing to much this year already"

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