Freesia

How to grow Freesia in a garden

Starting from corms ('bulbs'):

1. Choose a position in full sun or part shade with well-drained soil. 
2. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food. If the soil is clay based, add gypsum and fork in well. 
3. Plant corms directly where the plant is to grow to a depth of 5-7cm deep (rough side down and pointy end up) spaced 7-10cm apart. Then cover with soil. 
4. Feed with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food. TIP: for an added boost apply Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
5. Once bulbs start to sprout gently water to keep soil lightly moist.
6. Mulch with an organic mulch like woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the base of the plant.
7. Continue to lightly water the plant after the flowers and foliage have died off, keeping the soil lightly moist.
8. Once the foliage has died off, cease watering. Bulbs can stay in the soil for the next season or be pulled up and stored in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight.

Starting from seed:

• Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, lightly cover with mix, firm down and gently water in well. Keep moist at all times and place in a warm and sheltered position until seedlings have grown to 5 cm tall, then plant into the garden.
• Alternatively, sow direct where they are to grow in rows or in scattered clumps around the garden. Cover with a 6mm layer of Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Lightly firm down and keep moist. Just be sure to enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food prior to sowing.

How to grow Freesia in a pot

Starting from corms ('bulbs'):

1. Choose a pot with adequate drainage holes.
2. Place pot it in a full sun or part shade position.
3. Fill the pot with a quality potting mix such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.
4. Plant corms 5-7cm deep with the rough side down and pointy end up, space corms 7-10cm apart.
5. Cover with soil.
6. Water in well.
7. Once corms start to sprout, gently water to keep soil lightly moist.
8. Feed with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food. TIP: for an added boost apply Yates Thrive Fish Blood & Bone Plant Food Concentrate.
9. Continue to lightly water the plant after the flowers and foliage have died off, keeping the soil lightly moist.
10. Once the foliage has died off, cease watering. Remove the corms and store in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight.

Starting from seed:

• Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, lightly cover with mix, firm down and gently water in well. Keep moist at all times and place in a warm and sheltered position until seedlings have grown to 5 cm tall, then plant into the garden.
• Alternatively, sow direct where they are to grow in the pot, spacing seeds 5-7cm apart. Cover with a 6mm layer of Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Lightly firm down and keep moist.

Growing tips

• Ensure that you allow the plants to die down before lifting. This will provide the most energy to the corm for next season’s growth.
  
  
• Great for mass plantings in beds, under trees that provide part shaded conditions or on grassy banks.
  
  
• Germination by seed may be improved by soaking seeds in tepid water for 24 hours before sowing.
  
  
• Freesias can be left in the ground or garden bed for several years.
  
  
• Freesias can become weedy in certain areas. Remove seed heads from plants to reduce self seeding numbers.