Freesia bulbs not growing

[green fingers]

I bought some Freesia bulbs and planted them in pots around the begining of May. Only one has produced leaves. The rest are still there but seem to have grown bulbs out of the origional bulbs I know cos I dug them up) but no leaves. Is this OK and will they grow leaves and later flowers or did I buy duds?

Wendy.

[cajary]

Hi, green. Funny old things are Freesias. If you want them to flower this year you have to buy specially treated bulbs. You might have bought "normal" corms that should be planted in late Summer to sit all Winter "in the green" and then flower in the Spring. ( I've done that)
Dividing into cormlets would then be quite normal. Try just leaving them and see what happens in the late Summer. You might find that they'll send up leaves and sit like that all winter. They should be hardy down to about -5C

[green fingers]

Thanks cajary, I love the smell of freesias and was so looking forward to some fresh cut ones in a vase. I will have to wait patiently and see what happens next year. Although as I said I have one lovely one that has grown some very promising looking leaves, so I might be lucky to smell that sweet fragrance.

[cajary]

Hi, green. The most strongly frangranced are the purple and the yellow ones.
The scent is more pronounced when the flower is warm. ( something to do with the volativity of the oil that produces the scent) So the fragrance is stronger in the evening, if you've got them indoors.
I grow them in the ground (overwinter) and in pots for late Spring. If you're careful, you can have cut plants from March up to about now. Good Luck