Toni's Garden Gate

A favorite – Yellow Non-stop Begonia

Gazing across the snow-covered landscape, it's hard to imagine that in a few weeks, we will be out in the sunshine, enjoying the true spring. Then, suddenly, it's summer and the garden centers are overflowing with magnificent 'non-stop' begonias blooming in jewel colors. And hefty price tags!

If you start now, you can have those beauties for a fraction of the cost.

Some of the most popular begonias are the tuberous variety, loved for their lush, vibrant flowers. Tubers are available from mail order nurseries, or sometimes in garden centers early in the season. If you purchased a begonia plant last year and overwintered the tubers, you can resurrect that begonia for another season of bloom.

A pot of begonias in a Hosta garden

Begonias are not for every garden. For one thing, they require bright shade, which limits many
gardeners' choices for location. A cool shade garden that doesn't get full summer sun is a good start. A well-shaded patio or deck is another choice for container begonias. Direct sun and hot temperatures will burn the leaves and flowers of begonias, as well as dehydrate the soil and roots. Begonias need consistent moisture, but not too much, as they are prone to rot at the soil level.

If you have the perfect spot, buy some tubers now and pot them up for a head start.

Use one tuber per 12-inch pot. Plant in light, well-draining soil to help prevent root and stem rot. Keep the soil lightly moist, and place the pot in a warm, bright location to encourage growth. Once the plant emerges, be very careful with watering. When the new growth reaches about 6 inches, pinch it back to the second bud from the tip. This encourages a fuller plant and more blooms. Continue pinching monthly until midsummer. If planting in a garden bed, be sure the temperatures have settled; even a 50-degree night can damage a young begonia.

End of the show: After the first frost, dig the tubers or bring the pots indoors for overwintering. Garden consultant Charlie Nardozzi outlines the process for overwintering: "Dig the tubers, leaving some soil on the roots. After the soil dries, break the stems off the tubers and remove the excess soil. Let cure for one week in a warm, dry location out of direct sun. Store in flat containers filled with dry peat moss or sand in a 40˚F-50˚F room." More details from Nardozzi's article can be found here.

Some wax begonias have rich red shiny leaves plus flowers

If you don't have the time or inclination to fuss over tuberous begonias, consider planting the popular 'wax' begonia, also known as bedding begonias. These are of the fibrous type, meaning that they have
roots similar to annuals. Purchase plants from your local garden center (growing from seed is difficult and usually disappointing). Wax begonias are an easier way to add color to a shade garden, though they should be dead-headed to encourage continuous bloom. After the initial planting, pinch them back to produce a fuller plant. In summer, if they become leggy they can be pinched again. Again, don't put them into the ground too soon.

Rex Begonia 'Palomar Prince'

Some of the most beautiful begonias are loved for their exquisite foliage. The Rex begonias are rhizomatous plants capable of performing both outdoors in sheltered shade and indoors through the dreary winter months. Rex begonias thrive in warm humidity, and require watering only when the soil is dry to the touch. They are easy to propagate by stem cuttings.

With more than 1,000 species of begonia, don't you think your garden deserves some?