Gladiolus in Zone 6a & 6b
Gladiolus spp.
Yes, gladiolus grows in zones 6a and 6b. Plant it outside Apr 11–Apr 18.
When to plant gladiolus in zone 6b
Zones 6a and 6b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 11–Apr 18 |
| Estimated bloom | Jul 10–Jul 17 (~90 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-4 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 6b
These go outside within two weeks of gladiolus in zone 6b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Agrostemma (Corn Cockle)Apr 11–Apr 18
- AstilbeApr 11–Apr 18
- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)Apr 11–Apr 18
- Basket-of-GoldApr 11–Apr 18
- Bupleurum (Thoroughwax)Apr 11–Apr 18
- CalendulaApr 11–Apr 18
Gladiolus is the one bulb crop in this group that runs on the opposite calendar from tulips, daffodils, and the rest. It's planted in spring, not fall, and blooms the same summer instead of waiting through winter, sending up 2- to 4-foot spikes lined with ruffled, trumpet-shaped flowers in almost any color you can order.
How gladiolus fits zone 6's season
Zone 6b's frost-free window runs about 173 days, from April 25 to October 15. Gladiolus needs about 90 days from sowing to first bloom.
Gladiolus planting windows in every zone
Zone 6b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | May 6–May 13 | Aug 4–Aug 11 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 16–May 23 | Aug 14–Aug 21 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 1–May 8 | Jul 30–Aug 6 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | Apr 26–May 3 | Jul 25–Aug 1 |
| 6a & 6b (your zone) | Not usually | Apr 11–Apr 18 | Jul 10–Jul 17 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Mar 27–Apr 3 | Jun 25–Jul 2 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 11–Mar 18 | Jun 9–Jun 16 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 1–Feb 8 | May 2–May 9 |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Not usually | Nov–Jan | ~90 days after direct-sowing |
| 11a & 11b | Not usually | Dec 18–Dec 25 | Mar 18–Mar 25 |
Bloom dates are about 90 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for gladiolus.
Where to buy gladiolus bulbs
We haven't vetted bulb/tuber suppliers yet. Our seed-supplier list below doesn't carry these. The growing-guide source cited above is a good starting point for where to buy.
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing gladiolus" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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Growing Gladiolus in USDA zone 6b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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