Begonias

artydoll

just ordered through Tesco club deal vouchers,2 lots of begonia bulbs,one lot apricot shades ,the other cascading begonia bulbs ,fragrant fountains.
Have any of you grown these please?and whats the best way to plant them,I have never tried begonias before.

Farway

The tubers are prone to rot, made even worse as the tubers have a hollow side and a raised [domed] side

Unfortunately the hollowed side is UP and can collect water and thus rot

"In planting begonia tubers, always remember that the hollow side is the top, and must be uppermost, just on a level with the surface of the soil; on no account must the tuber be buried, and care should be taken in giving water that it does not lodge in the concave side."

So the hollow side should be just above soil level

More here http://www.garden-centre.org/plants/Begonia.htm

They are tender plants and need to be stored over winter, plus vine weevils love the tuber roots

I start mine off in pots in the conservatory, just did them yesterday as it happens, then plant out in other containers after last frost

But lovely plants and worth the bother IMO

knithryn

I'm trying a slightly different way to start my begonias and dahlias.
I've laid them all out on top of damp compost, in a mini-propagator.
I did this about 2 or so weeks ago.
Now that I can see little pink sprouts of eyes on the begonias I will make sure they don't dry out, and in a few days time (ie when my new greenhouse is up) I will pot them up into pots of compost. Some of the dahlias have started green shoots as well and will be potted up.
I always have a tendency to forget to give them some TLC and then I lose them through either rot or drying out. This lot are indoors in my dining room beside the french windows, so I see them often enough to love them a little.

artydoll

Thanks for your comments,wont get the tubers for a week or two,as I have to wait for voucher to send off for them,so I,m going to be a bit behind with planting them up.
They look lovely any way heres hoping they will grow for me.