Begonia (what to do at the end of season)

Meomye · October 2018

I have a dark red Begonia in a large container that has been magnificent all summer but is starting to slow down a bit now. What do I with it during the winter? do I leave it in situ or do I have to get the corm out (which is what I believe you do if they are in the ground ) if so, what is the procedure for storing please.

Papi Jo · October 2018

Wait until the foliage has wilted. Get the corm out of the ground. Clean remnants of soil away, carefully wrap in lots of newspaper and store in a cool dry place.

Lyn · October 2018

I always bring the pots into the GH around now, lay on their side, don’t water, wait until the foliage has dried and the thick stems dropped off on their own, wrap in newspaper and store in the bottom of a cold wardrobe.
Check them well for vine weevil they bury into the corm.

Meomye · October 2018

Thanks for replies, I can't bring container in as it is big and heavy. I will wait for foliage to die down and remove corm from pot.

Papi Jo · October 2018

Meomye said:

Thanks for replies, I can't bring container in as it is big and heavy. I will wait for foliage to die down and remove corm from pot.

OK, then do check that your container does not get too wet (with the rain) as it might compromise the state of the corm, which should get drier and drier when the begonia's leaves etc. die off. Storing the corm in a dry state is essential.

Obelixx · October 2018

I have always disliked begonias so have never grown them but I may change my mind.

Went on a garden group visit yesterday to a small-holding near Coëx where our hostess is busily preparing a plot for organic certification to grow edible flowers and leaves to supply to high end chefs and restaurants.

It seems begonia flowers are edible - supply a fresh, acid/citrus taste - which one 3 star chef folds into his risotto just before serving as a surprise flavour and texture and charges 350€ for the pleasure. Apparently we lesser cheffy mortals can use them in salads so it's worth putting up with the plasticky looking foliage and storing the corms well over winter.

Buttercupdays · October 2018

@Obelixx - I got a Begonia 'Glowing Embers' in an end of season sale and currently have it in my back porch. It has starry, orange flowers and lovely, dark, pointy leaves and looks nothing like bog standard bedding ones, which I dislike too. Hoping I can keep it through till next year (it's a tender perennial, not a corm) The flowers would look great in salads!

Obelixx · October 2018

That's the kind I was thinking of BCD. I think @Dovefromabove has a similar one and recommends it for a glow in a corner next to her bench. Bet she doesn't know she can eat it too.

Meomye · October 2018

@Buttercupdays Just looked up Glowing Embers, gorgeous, adding it to my list. So the fact that isn't a corm means I can just leave it in pot or bed and it will come out again when?

Buttercupdays · October 2018

It's a tender perennial, which means it needs to be warm over winter. Failing a heated greenhouse, that means in the house, on a bright windowsill.

Reduced daylight will probably mean a slow down in growth and flowers but it should pick up again in the spring. Take care with the watering, not too much and give it a spring feed for encouragement.

It can go outside once the danger of frost is over, but harden it off first!

Dovefromabove · October 2018

Went past this garden the other day ... hope the gardener doesn’t mind me putting a photo of their begonia container on here !!!

Begonia (what to do at the end of season)

Posts