Begonia Growing Guide

Planting Begonia

  • Plant in spring after the last frost.
  • If you cannot plant your bulbs and perennials right away, store them in a cool, dry, dark location, like a basement.
  • Plant in the garden when soil temperature reaches 10 °C (50 °F) or more.
  • Position tuber flat, with the curved/hollow side up, just barely below the soil surface and 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) apart.
  • Since the tubers are susceptible to rotting, keep the potting soil moist, but not wet.

Growing Begonia

  • If early blooms are desired, pot up and start indoors up to six weeks ahead of last frost date.
  • Plant your begonias where they will receive partial shade. The hotter your growing region, the more shade they prefer.
  • For best results (stronger stems, fewer but more spectacular flowers), pinch off all but 2 to 4 stems while the plants are young and developing.

Care Begonia

  • Water as needed during active growth periods, but allow the soil to become dry between watering.
  • Keep them healthy by removing dead flowers, leaves and stems, and fertilize once a month.

Winterizing Begonia

  • These bulbs cannot tolerate frost.
  • In fall, once flowering ceases and before the first frost, bring in begonias for the winter.
  • Lift the bulbs: gently dig up bulb and allow to dry off.
  • After drying a day or two, dug tubers can be stored in layers of vermiculite or sawdust at approximately 5 °C to 7 °C (40 °F to 45 °F).
Begonia