What you could do is leave some in the ground, and take the rest out - to see which method works better in your particular climate. Mine stay in all year unless they're being thinned. However, with your more continental summer (hot, dry) it might be too warm for them. Don't fridge them but do keep them in a cool and shaded place over the summer while they're out of the ground. Protect from mousies and other pests. If you saved seed - sow in July-August and you may well get flowers for spring from the seedlings. Plant the bulbs again in September-October, as soon as the weather starts cooling. Leaves will be coming through October-November.

If they look like little pieces of dried cork and their tunics are loose around the actual bulb, it's probably not worth trying. If they are still plump then it's worth putting them in. In zone 9 you can probably leave them in the ground all year, only thinning them out when they become overcrowded. A sandy sort of soil that gets at least half a day's sunlight and reliable winter water will give you a good chance of success with your Freesias. How long will they last? If they get too shrivelled then even a few months is too long. And if they start to sprout but aren't planted then they rapidly run out of the ability to grow/flower. For many bulbs, four to six months - fewer if they have not been hardened off or have had their leaves removed too soon. The main reasons for lifting bulbs are: they've become overcrowded; you want to share with someone; you need the space for something else and don't want to put the spade through them; or the climate has extremes that the bulbs can't tolerate.

Cut off all foliage and remove all dirt. Spread them in a single layer in a shaded dry location. 20-22 C. is a perfect temperature. After 3 weeks put them in a paper bag and keep it in a cool dry place. The refrigerator will be too cold. They are a tender bulb. I wondered if they could stay all year in the container. If you do not have freezes they would be safe.

Water once after putting in soil and no more until shoots appear (if they do). Freesias are one that may make it planted a year late. Nothing to lose by trying. You could do some in soil and some with the paper towel. Of course we want to hear your results :-) New freesia bulbs will probably hit the nurseries in late Sept.