Freesias are popular cut flowers for a reason. Its exotic-looking blossoms with a delicate fragrance are a delight for the eyes and nose. You can get the beautiful bulbous plant in the garden, but caring for it is not easy.
Freesia tubers are very sensitive to frost
Why are the tubers so important?
Freesias can live for several years. However, they are not green all year round. After flowering, the leaves will also wither. The plant draws all of its energy into the tuber and stores it there for the next season. In the spring, the freesia will sprout again, but only if it has survived the winter.
The tubers are also important for the propagation of freesias, because over the course of the year the mother tuber develops so-called brood tubers. You can carefully separate these in the fall when you dig up your freesias for the winter. The chances of successful propagation are significantly greater than with sowing.
How to store the tubers in winter?
Freesias are not hardy, neither are the tubers. It is therefore essential that they overwinter frost-free. They don't need light during this time, but they do need good ventilation. Otherwise, the sensitive tubers can easily begin to rot. For example, storage in a wooden or cardboard box that you fill with straw beforehand is ideal.
Grow freesias from tubers
Whether you buy your freesia tubers fresh or have separated them from the mother tuber, you should only (re)plant undamaged tubers. When buying, also make sure that the tubers are nice and big. They should then be stored in a warm place for several days and watered with warm water directly before planting.
Remember that freesias are not hardy and should therefore only be planted after the May frost. Plant the bulbs at least two inches deep in the soil, pointed end up. Then rinse thoroughly again.
The essentials in brief:
- buy only large and undamaged tubers
- only plant in the garden after the ice saints
- Mother bulb forms brood bulbs
- overwinter all tubers frost-free and airy
tips
Freesias prefer a light and warm location.