Joseph Tychonievich and His Passion for Breeding Gladiolus
Editor’s Note: In our previous post we talked about how Ohio native Joseph Tychonievich, who lives and gardens in Virginia has used his knowledge and talents to inspire home gardeners to try their hand at plant breeding. He puts his knack for garden writing to work on books and columns and he also teaches seminars, one of which I was lucky to attend. In this segment we’ll talk about his latest plant breeding passion, gladiolus.
Gorgeous Gladiolus
When I look at Joseph’s Facebook page I’m jealous of the types of plants he can grow in Virginia and how late into the season he can garden. But I’m also awed by the gladiolus breeding he’s been doing mainly because of the spectacular patterns and shapes he’s been achieving. Then in emailing back and forth for this post my climate jealousy was lessened a bit when I learned that, when living in Michigan, he bred gladiolus that would survive winter.
Two hybrids with Gladiolus papilio that Joseph bred. His hope is that they prove fertile and that he can accentuate the bell-shape a pattern in the next generation.
“I started with gladiolus because I love them, but they're annoying to grow. I hated digging the bulbs each fall, and I don't like having to stake them to keep the flowers from toppling over. So I started breeding to try and keep the great flowers, and make them less work,” he explains. Less work included eliminating the fall bulb dig and the spring planting.
Joseph also bred gladiolus to not need staking. “If I walk through my seedling bed and a plant has flopped over into the mud it gets immediately ripped out,” he explains.
He is continuing to pursue his passion for gladiolus. “I've been having a wonderful time exploring the huge range of shapes and patterns in the flowers. I've been collecting more wild species from South Africa and hope to have some really unusual and exciting forms in the coming years,” Joseph says. “In breeding gladiolus I've been surprised and excited by all the variability and interesting traits I've been able to find in the group.”
About
As you can tell from this and the previous post, Joseph Tychonievich has been gardening most of his life and grows everything from agaves to zucchini. Joseph lives and gardens with his husband and assorted furry companions in eastern Virginia.
If you’re interested in plant breeding or alpine plants, Joseph’s books Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener and Rock Gardening: Reimagining a Classic are must reads. If you’d like to explain the mystery of your garden obsession to someone you love The Complete Guide to Gardeners: The Plant Obsessed and How to Deal With Them is a fun and funny guide that may help them understand your need for plants!
Joseph’s three books are pictured below. To purchase one or all of them just select each book’s individual “Buy on Amazon” button.
Photos courtesy of Joseph Tychonievich. Banner photo shows one of Joseph’s oldest gladiolus, which proved hardy in Michigan.
Note: I'm a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
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