Talkback: Begonias

Posts

• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  April 2008

  Am growing begonias from tubers for the first time this year, would love any advice on how to get the best from them.

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  April 2008

  I am a novice, but a keen gardener and I too am about to pot some begonia tubers for the first time. Any advice? Also, I have the dreaded Marestail weed shooting up around my garden. Any advice to get rid it it before it takes over?

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  July 2008

  my dark red begonia planted as tuber in April has beautiful huge flowers but leaves blotchy an pale despite fertilizer granules. Any suggestions?

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  September 2008

  I have had a wonderful show of Begonias in my garden this year, I would love to be able to store them over the winter. Does anyone have any ideas of how I could do this?

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  September 2008

  I have some lovely Begonia Bonfires which are still going strong. When should I lift? Should I cut back the stems? I did leave them in the pot last year protected with straw and bubble wrap and they overwintered very well but have outgrown the pot this year. Any advice

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  March 2009

  Please help me, I'm a novice gardener. I bought a begonia bonfire last year and was advised to winter it in the garage which I did. Now I've brought it out in to the house and all I can see is the tuber just above the soil. Should I start watering it, should I re-pot it? I have no idea what to do ... any thoughts?
  Thanks. Michelle

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  March 2009

  I bought a begonia plant from the local supermarket 2 weeks ago. It seems squashed into a small pot. Unfortunately I don't the name of it. However, the sales notice said that it could be an indoor or outdoor plant.If you think I should keep it indoors,should I repot it.
  Thank you.
  Cynthia.

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  April 2009

  Just found my very first Begonia tuber still in its brown paper bag from the shop. I'd forgotten about it and it must have been there on the kitchen counter for at least six weeks.
  Yes, yes, I know,I am not a very good housewife :-)
  
  Four lovely sprouts,so far so good. Very accommodating plant obviously.
  
  Stuck it in a 8 inch wide terracotta drainpipe in the greenhouse border. But.......I can't find out anywhere HOW DEEP TO PLANT THE THING.
  I left most of it exposed in a peaty mixture and must have a feel for begonias because I put in a thin bamboo structure without being told. Just read here that this is a good idea, in order to support the hopefully coming stems.
  
  So do I have to bury the entire tuber or can I leave it with over half sticking out?

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  April 2009

  Reply to Blue Shimmer,
  I sparingly cover tubers with compost. You may have heard that some bulbs can be planted with their tops sticking well clear of the compost, but begonias aren't one of these.
  
  As some tubers are very concave, water can settle in them and cause rotting if watered from above. Either water very carefully around teh sides of the tuber to avoid this, or water from below.

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• Gardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147

  April 2009

  I am a novice gardener and would like some advice on Begonias. A friend has just given me two tubers and told me to soak them in a small amount of water before planting (they are concave up).
  
  I don't have a garden, only a patio area and therefore all my flowers are in pots and baskets. Will the begonias take in a pot?
  
  Also, what other flowers would you recommend for shaded areas?

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