karen
Kindergardener
Posts: 25
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Bulbs
Dec 5, 2009 14:35:33 GMT -5
Post by karen on Dec 5, 2009 14:35:33 GMT -5
Does anybody know anything about growing Freesia? I almost bought some bulbs from Brent and Becky's this fall but I want to be sure I get something that will have fragrance. Some of the cut flowers have it and some don't, so I figure it gets bred out in some cultivars.
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marty
Kindergardener
Posts: 32
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Bulbs
Dec 5, 2009 21:30:54 GMT -5
Post by marty on Dec 5, 2009 21:30:54 GMT -5
I know they're easy to grow in Zones 8 and 9, but I never encountered an unscented one. I have never understood breeding scent out; in most cases the resulting flower is not enough of an "improvement" to warrant the loss of fragrance.
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karen
Kindergardener
Posts: 25
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Bulbs
Dec 5, 2009 22:05:46 GMT -5
Post by karen on Dec 5, 2009 22:05:46 GMT -5
I looked up all the cultivars they offered and it seemed like the scent was less or even nonexistent in most of them. They had one species, F. leichtlinii, known for fragrance, but even on sale 50% off it was too pricey for me. I may be sorry later, but I thought I should educate myself better before spending the money.
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Bulbs
Dec 6, 2009 12:48:26 GMT -5
Post by regality on Dec 6, 2009 12:48:26 GMT -5
Karen: I can't recommend specific cultivars, but I can tell you that if freesias like you, they'll multiply ad infinitum. I started with a dozen and now have...er....jillions...in places I thought the freesias didn't even know existed. Good thing I like the thangs. *L*
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jeana
Elementary School
Posts: 76
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Bulbs
Dec 6, 2009 14:23:02 GMT -5
Post by jeana on Dec 6, 2009 14:23:02 GMT -5
My only experience is that they like to grow in cool temps, like around 50-60*. It might be something you have more with under lights in the garage than in the greenhouse. Growing them too warm can cause the flowers to not last at all.
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karen
Kindergardener
Posts: 25
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Bulbs
Dec 6, 2009 14:29:56 GMT -5
Post by karen on Dec 6, 2009 14:29:56 GMT -5
Thus far I've been keeping the greenhouse over 50 at night, some sunny days it can get up into the high 70's, even 80's near the walls. I'm still playing around with the temp settings on the controller and moving things around to different benches. The calochortus you gave me are up. When do they bloom? They didn't last year 'cause I potted them so late.
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jeana
Elementary School
Posts: 76
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Bulbs
Dec 6, 2009 14:44:19 GMT -5
Post by jeana on Dec 6, 2009 14:44:19 GMT -5
Uh, I planted mine in the ground and they bloomed in the spring. They were late B&B bulbs, so I doubt I planted them any earlier than this last year. Perhaps yours didn't bloom because they didn't get the chilling they needed or temps too warm caused them to abort their bloom buds. Like I said, the bloom color was an insipid mauvish. Not at all like the pics.
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karen
Kindergardener
Posts: 25
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Bulbs
Dec 6, 2009 15:41:26 GMT -5
Post by karen on Dec 6, 2009 15:41:26 GMT -5
Oh well, I'll await the insipid mauve a little less anxiously. I got some of the other calochortus on sale last month and will let you know how they turn out.
Does anyone grow any of the west coast Erythronium? E. 'White Beauty' is another new (to me) bulb I picked up from the 50% off sale.
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jeana
Elementary School
Posts: 76
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Bulbs
Dec 6, 2009 20:37:24 GMT -5
Post by jeana on Dec 6, 2009 20:37:24 GMT -5
Not that I haven't tried. Did they show up looking healthy? The usually show up (if shipped bareroot) being shriveled and mealy and rotty. I've never had any luck with bareroot ones. There's a place that I plan to try next season that has them in pots.
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