Freesia (S)
Zone 10
You can enjoy the heady fragrance of these graceful flowers in the garden or in containers indoors. Freesia do best where nights are cool.
Plant the corms in the garden after frost for bloom in June-July. Space them 4"-6" apart, in groups of 5 or more, in full sun and cover with 2" of soil. Freesia benefits from a monthly feeding of 5-10-5 fertilizer from the time shoots appear until the buds start to colour. The wiry stems may need support. In Zones 3-8, after the foliage withers, dig them and store in a dry place over winter.
For container growing indoors, set the bulbs 1" apart in a large pot (about 6 per 8" pot) and barely cover with soil. Water lightly but do not let the pots dry out. Give the bulbs at least 4 hours of direct sun each day; temperature around 10°C in an unheated sun porch is ideal.
