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Lifting Begonias

kcqE1AGqdG5wBOomkLxHTdIqJQVbBuDjkcqE1AGqdG5wBOomkLxHTdIqJQVbBuDj Posts: 3
in Plants
Hi,

Im having problems with overwintering my begonia tubers, this is the first time i have attempted it. Im having difficulty removing the earth around the tuber. I dont know if i should be more harsh and just remove it or wrap them in newspaper with the earth still attached? I understand they need to be dried out before they are over wintered. 

Posts

  • coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
    I don't think you need to remove all the earth. Just let it dry and it will come off more easily I guess. 

    Luxembourg
  • kcqE1AGqdG5wBOomkLxHTdIqJQVbBuDjkcqE1AGqdG5wBOomkLxHTdIqJQVbBuDj Posts: 3
    Thank you
  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    Check the tubers for any soft bits too, and discard those that feel a bit spongey.  I always used to wrap each one up separately, so if there were a problem with one, it would not spread. 
  • coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
    found this. Similar to what I do to pelargoniums although I keep the stalks and some leaves.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJCUW_DNlL8

    Luxembourg
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I’m just lifting mine for this year,  some of them are very old and huge so a battle to get out of the pots,  I just tip the pot on it’s side,  tap off what’s loose and leave them on the bench in the GH,  when it’s dry the rest will readily fall off then I bring them indoors and wrap in newspaper,  (making sure they are completely dry). store in a cooler spare bedroom in a cardboard box,  check next March for shoots and put the small ones in a seed tray of any old compost,  after they’ve shown shoots of about 3” pot up however you want.
    I always check the corms for vine weevil before I put them away,  I almost always find a few tucked in. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • kcqE1AGqdG5wBOomkLxHTdIqJQVbBuDjkcqE1AGqdG5wBOomkLxHTdIqJQVbBuDj Posts: 3
    Thank you, how do i check for check the corms for vine weevil?
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    If the tubers are in pots, you can not lift them and just put the whole pot in a frost free shed or similar.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    kcqE1AGqdG5wBOomkLxHTdIqJQVbBuDj said:
    Thank you, how do i check for check the corms for vine weevil?

    You will know,  there will be little holes burrowed in the corm,  you can hook them out with something,  I use old fashioned meat skewer.   When you’re used to seeing them you can tell at a glance by the compost around them,  it will be a different colour,  orangey red,  very fine and dusty. 
    Once they’re out,  you can wrap and store.  If you pack them away with one in,  it will continue to eat through. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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