I have freesias of all colors from lemon to deepest yellow, blush to cerise, many tints and shades of mauve and lavender, and purest white. All are exquisitely scented. All I grew from seed, the most inexpensive way to get a big stock of bulbs.
I planted seeds in early March (our autumn) in modified shade or full sun, in good soil mixed with humus and sand, in rows located where they would not be disturbed.
Seedlings developed and flowered in about six months and then made little bulbs for the next season. I lifted the bulbs, dried them off after the stalks had withered, and then stored them.
The following March, I planted the bulbs and they made bigger plants and flowers, got bigger themselves, and made lots of little bulbs, so many I had heaps for myself and heaps to give away.
The next March I tried growing some bulbs in almost pure humus in front of my sweetpea trench. They loved it, became spectacular with stalks 22 inches long and longer, and flowers 2 inches across.
by M Heerden – South Africa
