Begonia Tuberhybrida for 2013
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 1:34 pm
Not exotic in the normal sense we use on here, but an invaluable plant for bringing colour to baskets, pouches and cascading over a wall
I had Begonia tuberhybrida in my wall pouches last year and my wife liked them so much she asked if I was going to do them again. Here they were in August last year. Basically they are trailing tuberous Begonia which are perennials, so I allowed them to dry off after getting frosted in mid December (-3.6C) and left them dry in the pouches over winter. Some of them didn't make it but I have ended up with 32 tubers which have sprouted. I knew they would be too big for a second year in the pouches so ordered some more for late April delivery. This gives a month to grow on before going out on the wall.
There was a problem.... they arrived, a month early, on 30th March in the middle of the freeze. Temps had fallen to -2.8C on the morning they arrived, and that following night temps fell to a whopping -4.8C. The plants were cold and wet, and I fully expected to be on the phone to T & M asking for replacements for when I requested them. They were unpacked and given TLC for 24 hours and didn't seem to be too phased by their icy journey. so I planted them up in the pouches. They have to be left laid down for a week to allow the roots to go into the centre of the pouch. Here they are sunning themselves under the growlight I have constructed a a rail to hang them on using a section of baton, as they were earlier than I expected and will have to stay in the conservatory, rather than going straight out into the Lunar Module. Here 10 days after planting up.
I had Begonia tuberhybrida in my wall pouches last year and my wife liked them so much she asked if I was going to do them again. Here they were in August last year. Basically they are trailing tuberous Begonia which are perennials, so I allowed them to dry off after getting frosted in mid December (-3.6C) and left them dry in the pouches over winter. Some of them didn't make it but I have ended up with 32 tubers which have sprouted. I knew they would be too big for a second year in the pouches so ordered some more for late April delivery. This gives a month to grow on before going out on the wall.
There was a problem.... they arrived, a month early, on 30th March in the middle of the freeze. Temps had fallen to -2.8C on the morning they arrived, and that following night temps fell to a whopping -4.8C. The plants were cold and wet, and I fully expected to be on the phone to T & M asking for replacements for when I requested them. They were unpacked and given TLC for 24 hours and didn't seem to be too phased by their icy journey. so I planted them up in the pouches. They have to be left laid down for a week to allow the roots to go into the centre of the pouch. Here they are sunning themselves under the growlight I have constructed a a rail to hang them on using a section of baton, as they were earlier than I expected and will have to stay in the conservatory, rather than going straight out into the Lunar Module. Here 10 days after planting up.