Freesia(Freesia hybrida) is a popular ornamental cut flower plant. It produces flowers set on long stems, arranged only on one side of a characteristic curved shoot. Multicolored flowers exude an intense, pleasant aroma. See whatgrowing freesias in the garden looks likeIn a moment you will learnwhen to plant freesia tubersand how to care for this plant so that it grows he althy and blooms profusely!
Freesia garden - Freesia hybrida
When to plant freesias?
Freesia gardenis a plant belonging to the Iridaceae family. It belongs to the group of tuberous plants due to the characteristic underground spore organs in the form of tubers. Since freesia is a thermophilic plant that blooms in summer,freesia tubers are planted in the garden in spring(late April / early May).
Freesia tubers should be planted in a sunny place , in a well-drained substrate. If heavy clay soil predominates in our garden, then we prepare a placebefore planting the freesia tubers. For this purpose, a hole should be dug to a depth of about 20 cm. The bottom is filled with a light substrate, e.g. compost soil mixed with sand. Make holes in the ground, about 5-7 cm deep, and place the freesia tubers in them. The distance between the tubers should not be less than 10 cm.
Freesia tubers should be placed in the ground with the pointed tip pointing upwards. After planting, water the tubers abundantly. A few weeks after planting, the first leaves begin to appear.Freesia flowers will appear 3-4 months after planting(July - August).
How to grow freesias in the garden?
Freesia is not an easy plant to grow , it requires care and experience. It should be grown in a sunny, warm place, sheltered from strong winds. Needs a light, permeable substrate. It should be sandy loam, with a high content of humus, neutral or slightly alkaline.
Water the freesias throughout the growing season , especially on hot summer days. The substrate should be constantly slightly moist, but the freesia does not bear the water around the tubers and roots. After flowering is complete, when the leaves begin to dry, reduce watering gradually.
From the moment the first leaves appear, for the next two months until flowering,is fed to the freesia with compound fertilizer . The recommended dose of the fertilizer is 20-25 g / m². Thanks to this, the plants will bloom profusely.
Growing large (40-50 cm)freesia flower stems need supportsto keep them from overgrowing with the weight of the flowers. The supports are best installed when the tubers are planted so as not to damage the root system later.
Freesia in our climatic conditions does not winter in the ground.At the beginning of October, freesia tubers are taken from the garden . We clean them of soil remnants, dry them and store them until spring at 15-17 ° C in a ventilated place.
Good to knowFreesia tubers are best planted in a different place each year. In this way, we will minimize the risk of disease and pest attacks.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
