Gladiolus permeabilis edulis
| Gladiolus permeabilis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Gladiolus permeabilis edulis
Propagation: Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse at 15°c[1]. It usually germinates freely[2]. The seed can also be sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a warm greenhouse[1]. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be grown on in the pot without disturbance for their first year, giving them an occasional liquid feed to ensure they do not become nutrient deficient. Pot up the small bulbs when they are dormant in the autumn, placing about 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for another year or two in the greenhouse and then plant them out in late spring.
Division. Dig up the corms in October, dry them in well ventilated conditions at about 20°c and then store them in a cool but frost-free place over the winter, planting them out about 10cm deep in April[2][1].
Cormlets harvested when digging up the corms in the autumn can be stored in a similar manner to the corms[1]. Larger cormlets can be planted out in spring, smaller ones may be best grown on for a year in the greenhouse.
Cultivation: Prefers a sunny sheltered position in a light sandy neutral to slightly acid soil[2][1]. Requires a stony gritty loam.
This plant is sometimes considered to be a distinct species, G. edulis.
It is said to inhibit the growth of legumes[3].
Range: S. Africa - Cape Province.
Habitat: Stony ground[4].
Edibility: Corm - cooked[5][6]. The roasted bulb tastes like chestnuts[7].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: G. edulis.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Hatfield, Audrey. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd, 1974.
- ↑ Grey, Charles. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate, 1938.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.