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There is another plant that is consonant with freesia - this is Frizea (wrong interpretation - Vriesea). Our heroine freesia comes from wild African bulbous plants and got its name from the surname of the German doctor Fried Frese then, like Friese Latin American roots, and it belongs to a completely different genus of plants. In Europe and Asian countries, freesia has become widespread thanks to the Netherlands, a state with a thriving flower business. Our flower growers living in the middle zone, and even in Siberia, have many questions related to planting and growing these flowers in open ground.
Fragrant beauty from Africa
Walking along the alleys of city parks in Siberia, the Urals or the Volga region, admiring the beauty of the flowers in the flower beds, an ignorant person cannot even imagine that freesia is a representative of the African flora. It tolerates our climatic conditions remarkably well; the aroma of freesia on our land is as strong as in Africa. Such a miracle will be a wonderful decoration for your flower beds: at home, on the balcony, in summer cottages and in estate greenhouses.
Morphology
The structure and shape of all varieties of freesia differ little from each other; the main differences may be in the color and shape of the flowers, as well as in the height of the plant stem. In the photo you see a specimen of ordinary freesia; according to the botanical description, the plant is divided into the following parts:
- freesia roots - a corm of medium size from 2 to 7 or more centimeters; during the growth process, small baby growths are formed on the bulb, which are easily separated from the mother tuber, but can exist nearby as an independent plant for any length of time. They grow according to the principle “in close quarters, but not in offence”, this situation is typical for freesia plantings; they love close contacts;
- freesia leaves - grow directly from the bulb, hatching from the scales, in a short time (1-2 weeks) reach a length of 15-30 cm, narrow (1-2 cm), in the center of the leaf there is a pronounced vein, prone to lodging, so a garter is necessary to the support, coloring of leaves in natural green shades;
- freesia stems - thin and bare, their height can vary depending on the variety from 20 to 75 cm (sometimes up to 1 m), highly branched at the top, several peduncles (2-12 pieces) nest in succession on the outgoing stems;
- flowers - medium in size, shaped like a funnel on a narrow neck, the number of petals is from 6 to 10 pieces, inside the funnel there are flowers of a contrasting color, sharply different from the main color of the petals, but there are monochrome palettes: pure white, plain blue, yellow, very fragrant, fragrant with an aroma reminiscent of the smell of lily of the valley;
- freesia fruits - small seed pods with dark brown seeds.
More than 150 varieties and hybrids of this plant have been bred since the beginning of breeding work; there are different types for growing freesia at home, in open ground, in greenhouses and greenhouses; the color of the flowers is so diverse that when choosing, the eyes get tired of their brightness and variety of colors.
Varieties
We do not have the opportunity to describe all existing varieties and hybrids of freesia, it is simply impossible, but we will still tell you something about some of their most prominent representatives.
Cardinal — the flower petals are painted red-orange, the flower funnel is yellow with dark lines, there are 9-11 inflorescence nests on the peduncle.
Freesia Armstrong - flowers are colored in red-pink tones, the height of the plant stem reaches 70 cm.
Ballerina - the flowers are painted snow-white with yellow spots inside the funnel and on the petals; up to 12 flowers are formed on the inflorescences.
Rose Marie — the color is soft pink, crimson, the inside of the funnel is white with pink veins, the number of flowers on the peduncle is up to 7 pieces.
Pimperina - a low plant (up to 20 cm), white flower petals are covered with yellow spots, the aroma is weak.
Alba - large snow-white flowers are covered with barely noticeable purple strokes.
Fragrant freesia - yellow, almost monochrome, color of the petals, only inside the funnel there is a small yellow-orange spot, fragrant with the aroma of lily of the valley.
How to grow freesia in the garden
Growing freesia in open ground is not a difficult process at all; you just need to follow the most basic rules of planting and care. This bulbous plant is sure to bloom and fill the air in your gardens with a sweet, fragrant aroma.
Preparing and planting bulbs
The first step is preparing planting material.
- Freesia bulbs must be carefully inspected after opening the package.
- Remove all dried and rotten (if any) specimens.
- Clean the bulb from freely detachable scales, do not remove the upper part adjacent to the nest, and free the lower part from dirt and dry soil.
- To disinfect and prevent diseases, place the bulbs in a fungicide solution for 30 minutes.
- Prepare containers (you can take simple plastic cups or special pots for seedlings), fill them halfway with loose soil.
- Place 3 freesia bulbs in one container, lightly pressing them into the substrate, add soil so that it covers the entire lower part, and add water. After the soil shrinks, add more substrate.
- Place the container in a warm, but not hot place for germination.
This operation begins in the spring 2-4 weeks before planting in open ground; if such planting is planned for the end of May, then the bulbs can be planted in mid-late April. Watch the video recommendations of an experienced florist; she tells and shows how to prepare and plant freesia bulbs for germination.
Seedling care
During the month when freesia bulbs are germinating, they need the following care:
- watering - after 1-3 days, once a week, combine it with fertilizing, additives to stimulate root growth, soil disinfection (potassium permanganate);
- disease prevention - in 2 weeks, spray once with special solutions of fungicides (for powdery mildew);
- necessary conditions for normal growth of freesia - in case of insufficient lighting (slow leaf growth), place the containers closer to the light; in case of excess sun and high air temperature (rapid growth), move the pots to a cooler and darker place;
- hardening freesia - two weeks after planting the bulbs, or 10-12 days before planting in open ground, daily take containers with seedlings outside, to a balcony or other place protected from drafts for hardening. Time - start with 30 minutes, gradually increasing it until the night hours.
A novice florist talks about his method of caring for freesia and the mistakes made in this process in the attached video. Watch it and try not to make similar mistakes.
Landing in the ground
In the spring, when the threat of frost on the soil has passed, at the end of April and until the end of May, freesia can be planted in open flower beds and flower beds, not forgetting that this plant loves warmth, so you need to prepare an insulating coating, at least for 2-3 weeks, while the freesia will adapt to the conditions in the new place. Our planting recommendations:
- the soil - must be very loose, well aerated for water and air, fertile, low acid, usually the soil is fertilized a year before planting, then in the spring this is not necessary, if the soil is not prepared, then all fertilizers: organic matter and minerals are applied a month before planting , the ground is carefully dug up and loosened several times;
- planting depth — germinated bulbs should be planted to a depth of no more than 15-20 cm, 3 seedlings should be placed side by side, sprinkled with soil, watered and mulched with peat or dry compost;
- family plantings - a characteristic feature in growing freesia is close plantings, three-bulb families are planted very close, no further than 10-15 cm from each other, at this distance they feel great and can support the leaves and stems of neighboring plants that are prone to drooping;
- supports and racks — leaves and stems of very tall freesias (up to 70 cm) as they grow will need to be strengthened on racks and small trellises; it is better to prepare them in advance;
- insulation — in case of sudden cold snaps and cool night hours, prepare low bracket holders and PVC film.
You will receive a practical lesson on how to plant freesias in open ground by additionally watching a useful video.
Features of growing in Siberia
There are no, or almost no, radical differences in growing freesia in Siberian conditions, but it can be noted:
- Bulbs for germination are not planted at the end of April, but 2 weeks earlier.
- They are planted in open ground later, at the end of May, in June.
- For the winter, the bulbs are dug up at the end of autumn and stored in basements and insulated sheds until spring.
These are very minor differences in planting timing. Freesias bloom in Siberia in the same way as in other, less severe regions of the country, until the coldest autumn days.
Use in garden design
In the garden you can create unique compositions from freesias of different varieties. A delicate or brightly colored wall of these flowers will decorate any corner, garden path or gazebo. For the designer, these plants provide a wide avenue for their fantasies, and not only for professionals, but also for ordinary amateur flower growers, freesia is an inexhaustible well of beauty and divine aroma.
Conclusion
Grow freesias, these are flowers for the heart and soul, live long and happily, and if we missed something in our advice, watch another video that combines all this information. Good luck.
