To plant freesia tubers, simply place them straight into the ground in April or May, once the risk of frost has passed. If you’re planting them the previous autumn (undercover) or growing them in pots for the greenhouse, use a pot that is about 11cm (4 inches) wide and plant around 5 tubers. Ensure that you plant them with their pointed ends about 2½-5cm (1-2in) deep.

To care for newly planted tubers, water them regularly and keep them moist and shaded. A cool greenhouse or conservatory is ideal if they are in pots. Once the tubers begin to sprout, move the pots to full sunlight and continue watering.

If you planted freesia between September and November, leave the pots outside while temperatures are between 10-17°C (50-62ºF). Then, move them indoors in winter to avoid cold weather and frost.

To support the freesia plant, use a triangle of canes or pea sticks to keep the foliage and flowering stems upright as they grow. If the soil is poor, water the plants when you plant them and then regularly as they grow, especially for potted freesias.

If planted in good quality soil, freesias do not need to be fertilized. However, if the soil is poor, a potassium-rich, liquid feed such as comfrey juice or liquid seaweed fertilizer can be applied when the plants are about 5cm (2in) tall. Feed them only when the plants are up and growing.

When growing freesias, whether in the garden or in pots, it is important to provide sturdy support to keep the foliage and flowering stems upright as they grow. For potted plants, round supports held on a central stick or a triangle/square of sticks will suffice. In the garden, gnarled end branches of silver birch or hazel can be used for support.

To promote continued blooming, cut off faded flowers at the base of the stem, but leave the foliage until it has completely died back. This allows the bulb to store more food and produce flowers next year.

Freesias are not completely hardy and cannot survive frost. If you live in a warmer part of the UK, you can cover the plants deeply and overwinter them in the ground. However, if you live in a colder area, it is best to lift the plants in the fall, either when the leaves turn yellow or after the first frost. Cut the stems back to 2½ cm (1 inch) and allow the tubers to dry.

Once dry, remove the old, shriveled part, leaving only the new plump tubers. These can easily be stored in a tray with sand. Store them in a cool, dry and frost-free place. Plant again when the soil starts to warm in late April. Roll plantings to extend the blooming season.

ourPlant freesia tubers under cover in March and April.Plant directly outside in April and May when the risk of frost is almost over.Water newly planted tubers.summerDeadhead faded freesia flowers.Cut flowers and freesia in bud for indoor vases.

In order to keep your autumnLift freesia tubers safe over the winter, be sure to mulch them heavily if you leave them in the ground. Alternatively, fresh tubers can be planted in September to November under cover for springtime blooms. If you have already planted the tubers in pots, be sure to bring them indoors to a cold conservatory or greenhouse to avoid cold weather and frost.

If you’re wondering why your freesias aren’t blooming, it’s important to keep the brown foliage in place until each leaf has died down. This allows the tubers to store energy and provide beautiful flowers the following year. Removing the foliage too soon may affect the flowering. It’s also possible that frost damaged the bulbs, or that the tubers had sat too long in their bag before planting. While you may see an odd leaf, there may be no flower.

why aren’t my freesia bulbs growing?There is a chance that mice or voles have made off with them. It could be the frost that has damaged them, or waterlogged soil has led to onion rot.

why are my freesia wilting?Overwatering can cause freesia to wilt because they don’t like to sit wet. They can also wilt when too dry, so water well during dry spells.

It is also possible that the freesias are suffering from fusarium disease, which is a fungal disease. Fusarium wilt causes discoloration of stems and foliage, as well as stunted growth and yellowing and wilting leaves. If you suspect this is the problem, lift the plant from the roots and discard it. The soil can also be affected, so you can either replace it with fresh soil, or avoid planting in that area for a few years.

why does my freesia have spots?This could be a type of bacterial soft rot – it will appear on the leaves as small spots, which then turn gray or brown. Make sure that the soil is not too moist and that the plant is not sitting in damp, and also make sure that there is good air circulation around the freesia. However, if the plant is heavily infected, it is best to lift and destroy it.