About Freesia Seed Pods
Freesias are native to South Africa. Freesia plants will naturalize over time, developing new little corms, which can be separated from the parent plant and set out individually, increasing the number of these sweetly scented blooms. Another way to increase your stock of the flowers is by planting from seed. First, you must harvest the freesia seed pods. They are an early season bloomer that prefer to flower before summer heat, when the plant will go mostly dormant. They produce seed pods after blooming, which must be left on the plant to ripen in order to have any chance at viability. Let the flowers fade and all petals fall. The pod will develop from the ovary and will start out green but, when ripe, will turn tan and dry out. During this time, maintain the plant itself and allow the foliage to persist, gathering solar energy to fuel both the formation of seed but also feed the corms. Once the pods are ripe and brown, collecting freesia seeds is a breeze. The trick is to get the seed sown at the proper time and with the necessary treatment to force sprouting.
How to Harvest Freesia Seeds
Once the pods are dry it is time for harvesting freesia seed. It can be difficult to determine when the pods are ripe and timing is everything. Under ripe seed will not germinate, while overly ripe pods will split and disperse the seed before you can harvest it. You should keep your eye on the pods daily to determine when to harvest them. When pods are dry and have begun to form vertical striations, it is time to snip them off the plant. Allow the pods to dry for a few days in a paper bag that is left open for air circulation and moisture evaporation. Crack open the pods and pick out the large pieces, separating them from the seed. Pouring the bag contents into a fine sieve will make collecting freesia seeds easier. You can now save seeds or plant them immediately indoors.
Sowing Freesia Seeds
After gathering freesia seeds, you can pour them into an envelope, label, and save them until spring or plant them immediately. Seeds will require a 24-hour soak in warm water prior to planting, no matter what time you choose to sow them. This will soften the endosperm and make sprouting easier on the embryo. Use seed trays filled with leaf mold or compost, sand, and compost in equal proportions. Moisten the medium evenly. Sow seeds and cover with a fine dusting of the medium. For enhanced germination, place the flat on a seed warmer and cover with a plastic lid. Remove the lid daily to release excess moisture that can cause damping off and other fungal issues. Germination time will vary but, generally, seeds will sprout in about one month. Once seedlings have two sets of true leaves, move them to larger pots and set them outdoors when temperatures are 55 to 65 degrees F. (13-18 C.).
