Contents:
- Freesias - silhouette
- Freesias in the garden - varieties
- When to plant freesias?
- Freesias - cultivation
Freesias - silhouette
Freesia is a genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the iris family. There are six species within it. They come from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. They have gained popularity as ornamental plants and are already known all over the world.Freesia flowers are most often grown for floristics. Most often used to create bouquet compositions. Year-round greenhouse crops are known, which delight with a variety of colors. They are also grown indoors, in pots.
The most difficult for an amateur, however, is the cultivation of garden freesia. It is demanding and requires many care treatments. However, it impresses with its colors, thanks to which the garden comes to life. The freesia color palette may have a hidden meaning. The specific color of the flowers can tell you something about the recipient or about the relationship you are building. Red freesia signifies joy in the presence of this person, white freesia signifies his good personality and innocence, and yellow is the character trait of jealousy. It also has an intense scent, so it is recommended to plant freesias near houses, terraces, balconies and gazebos.
Freesias in the garden - varieties
Garden freesias can have the following flower colors: red, white, purple, orange, purple, pink, blue and yellow.The petals of some varieties may be delicately hatched. They can have single or full flowers, set on top of a stiff stem. They have a bell-shaped shape and a strong, sweet fragrance. In our climate, they bloom less profusely than in warm countries. The plant is demanding and very sensitive to temperature changes, wind and cold. Garden freesias are hybrids of many species and are therefore called Freesia hybrida. Examples and the most popular varieties in garden breeding are:
- Blue freesia- about blue, single flowers. Reaches up to 60 centimeters in height. It has long, drawn, dark green leaves. In Polish conditions, when planted in spring, it blooms in July and August. It can be grown on a bed or lawn.
- Double freesia- can be of different colors: white, yellow, cream, pink, blue and red has double flowers. The red variety can be grown as a perennial, an exception among freesias.
When to plant freesias?
Freesia bulbs grown in gardens, in flower beds are planted into the ground right after the first frost. This is already a hint on how to plant freesia to get their flowers in July and August. Freesia can also be planted in April until the beginning of May. However, the later the harvest will be achieved at the end of August, in September. The bulbs can be dug out of the ground until October. Clean and dry, they should be stored in warm conditions with high humidity (even 25 degrees Celsius).
Plant the bulb into the hole 3-5 centimeters deep, and the distance must not be less than 10 centimeters.Plants planted in this way will have a place to develop. He althy freesia bulbs are light beige in color. The plant is of such a habit that it produces a tall stalk. Therefore, you should remember about support, because they can grow up to 45 centimeters. Freesias reproduce by bulbs. Another, but more difficult, way is to sow seeds.It eliminates the transmission of diseases and the yield is more abundant flowering.
Freesias - cultivation
Growing freesia in the garden is not easy and is recommended only to experienced growers. The position on which they are to develop must be sheltered from the wind and very sunny. Crops in partial shade give much worse results. Freesia is sensitive to water shortage, so regular morning watering is mandatory during the growing season. They react badly to the overflow of soil. Every three weeks you can use a multi-component fertilizer for strengthening. It does not prefer a high concentration of s alt in the soil. However, it must be supplied with micronutrients.After the first buds appear, fertilization should be done twice, every 10 days.
Freesia does not hibernate in the ground, therefore its bulbs should be dug out after the season and stored until the next season. At the end of flowering, freesia can be watered with high-potassium fertilizer.This will allow you to obtain large bulbs that will survive to the next year. The substrate should be covered with fertile, permeable soil, as the roots must have access to oxygen. If we do not have a position in the garden that will meet the requirements of freesia, you can prepare it yourself.A hole is created on the impermeable ground, which is then filled with compost, humus, clay soil and sand.
Such a mixture will allow you to obtain a permeable substrate that is able to retain the minerals needed by the plant.After achieving a neutral or slightly acidic pH (6.0-7.2), it can be concluded that the site is prepared for the cultivation of garden freesias.Weeding is also important, which should be done very gently and carefully. Freesia roots can be very shallow underground and are susceptible to damage.
