Freesia help needed please!

[Fucksandflowers]

They are one of my absolute favourite flowers, I had given up trying to grow them as the bulbs never sprout.

But Morrisons had lots ready sprouted and in flower today so I’ve bought some!
They are marketed as houseplants but I was hoping to put them in my garden?

Please tell me how to keep them alive and hopefully spread?

I am near London and I was hoping to grow them the same way as my gladioli.
That is, planted deeply and left alone, no lifting.

Sarah Raven page says they are not hardy and you'll need to dig them up each autumn. Bit too faffy for me, but I don't love them like you do! If you want something similar but hardy, try crocosmia.

www.sarahraven.com/articles/how_to_grow_freesias.htm

Hmm, they say that about gladioli too but I’ve never lifted them.

I can’t stand faff either, I have deliberately designed the garden to be low maintenance.

I am tempted to plant the freesia deeply with a nice thick layer of mulch over winter and see if they come back..

Maybe I’ll lift half in case they die never to return.