Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Begonias part 2!

Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800
in Plants
After my post about begonias the other day I went in the GC today and was chatting to the owner in there about my pots with lilies in. She recommended planting Begonias, but from bulb (tuber?) as I can keep them. So, 2 questions; 1. How easy are they to grow forms seed / bulb / tuber, whatever you call it? 2. Is it best to grow them that way than buy the plants? I am thinking it might be as at least then I know they are the tuber type (that Ryan mentioned) that can over winter. Thanks, Tracey
«1

Posts

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    Tracy, to be honest begonia's are best from the corm(tuber/bulb). You can grow them from seed, but it is a lot easier to grow from the corm. You get results straight away and they will, if you look after them, come back each year for years to come.

    It is a little more expensive to but the corms, but worth it in my opinion.

    They look like shrivelled lumps when you get them from suppliers, but they soon plump up when watered in.

    After the first frosts have blackened the foliage, you lift them, let them dry for a while and store them in paper bags in a frost free environment, just like dahlia's.

    In spring pot them up and water in well, they will soon spring into life, and if you want more cuttings they are easy to take straight from the corm, to increase your stock.

    In GW at the moment there is an excellent choice of some new varieties which will flower all summer through, many scented.

    The world of begonia's is your oyster.

    Best of luck.

  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800
    Thank so much Dave! that is really easy to understand! I have sen the GW offers, that is what has started me off but I wasn't sure whether they were the type that I can keep year after year as someone said there are types that are more like annuals (it's very confusing!!).



    The GC today had some that looked like flat bulbs at 99p each, not sure how much coverage one if those would give though. I wish I knew more!!!
  • otnorot but just call me Billotnorot but just call me Bill Posts: 311

    Tracey you cant help but love them.This container has three tuber growing in it your looking at the blooms on two of them                                            

    image

    This is a container of fibrous begonias.

    image

     

     

     

  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800
    Ok, this is where it's confusing. What is the difference between the top one and bottom? It is the bottom type I have been looking at on GW offers and these are the ones I remember my mum growing. Are these the type treated as 'annual' and the top ones are the ones that can keep if stored?



    Sorry for seeming so dim, I will get it eventually!! Going to have a google and see what I can learn!
  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800
    Just had a google, found an RHS article which was very informative, so now know the difference and I think I will get both!!! That's that problem sorted....next!!!
  • otnorot but just call me Billotnorot but just call me Bill Posts: 311

    Number one you buy tubers/bulbs,number two you buy them in 4/6 packs.

    Bill

  • marion mckaymarion mckay Posts: 17

    Very glad to have come across this post I have been wondering about some aspects of growing begonias for ages

    I know about begonia corms since i have been producing  plants from them for a couple of years now and absolutely love them. However, I have also purchased begonias from GC which seem to be fibrous rooted. I have seen these described as HP although none of mine produce anything the following year ?

    My  question is, and sorry if this sounds stupid, if i grow begonias from seed do they produce fibrous roots or corms ? Are there advantages disadvantages to each ?

    regards

    marion

     

     

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,038

    Dont forget when planting begonia corms that the concave side goes uppermost, and that you plant very shallowly, with the top of the corm only just covered.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    Thanks for pointing that out Punkdoc, I wouldn't have known and would probably have planted like bulbs....oops!!!  Also, can they be planted in borders or are they better in pots?

  • Orchid LadyOrchid Lady Posts: 5,800

    Marion, I think I've read somewhere, either further up on this thread or on the other Begonia one, that they are quite hard to grow from seed.  However, if you buy the type with the fibrous roots they will over-winter in the greenhouse away from frost and will get little corms (or tubers image) on the end....I think I've got that right but no doubt someone will tell me if I have misunderstood.

Sign In or Register to comment.