Try frost-tender begonias - with care

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 574, 21 February 1995, Page 11

Try frost-tender begonias - with care

BY

BEA

BARNES

I hear there was a sharp frost one recent morning although I haven't seen much evidence of it in town. That will be tough on the dahlias just as they should be looking their best. We haven't been too lucky with our dahlias this year. Fortunately mylovely basket of tuberous begonias was in the shelter of the back porch which would save it from any sneaky frost which was able to penetrate the forest which surrounds our garden. A number of people have told me that they have little success with tuberous begonias but I really can't imagine why as they are very easy to grow. All begonias are frost-tender and if planted out into the garden need to be totally protected from frost. In normal summer weather they make a wonderful show in a border but in our variable climate perhaps

the best way to grow them is in pots. The large flowered camellia types are beautiful in a range of colours from white to various shades of pink, rich red and orange. Just as striking are the large flowered frilled variety. My pride and joy at the moment is a large frilled orange. The first bloom was about seven inches across and so heavy I had to support the head on a framework of stakes. Eventually the weight of the flower did in fact crack the stem just below the head but it had been in flower for nearly three weeks. The second bloom is slightly smaller and so far quite strong on the stem and there are several more buds which will eventually open. The plants will go on flowering until about the end of April and usually die down in May . The dead

growth can then be removed and the tubers stored in dry sand in a cool place to be re-planted next season. Smaller flowered but a continuous display on the one plant can be had from the multi-flora varieties which will give a profusion of brightly coloured blooms all summer long. The trailing varieties are superb for hanging baskets giving notonly a wealth of bloom but rich green attractive foliage as a bonus. I have three of these trailing types in one large basket and at the moment they are a riot of colour. One plant is a double camellia type white flower which trailing down the side of the basket has a purity which is very lovely particularly at night. The rose pink has a longer petalled flower almost like a rose-bud and the edges of the petals

are slightly frilled. The brilliant red has serrated petals, almost cactus like, and is quite striking. The deck outside our house is subjected to every wind that blows so my basket sits in a stand which I can remove to shelter as necessary. The potted varieties are on the kitchen window sill where they can enjoy the early morning sun protected by a light muslin curtain. Turberous begonias become available about September. They are not too expensive and are really worth growing. They need to be planted in six-inch pots in a commercial potting mix when tiny pink shoots appear on the surface of the tuber. I usually incorporate some Osmacote Plus granules TURN TO PAGE 12

Begonias

From Page 11 when preparing the mix. Kept watered and given a feed of a house-plant food every two or three weeks, they will gi ve a display of lovely blooms all summer long. Fibrous rooted begonias are the type sold as bedding out plants in early summer. Although not so flamboyant as the tuberous varieties they flower profusely and with their lovely rich foliage make a gracious edging round the rose bed or a flower border. A good dressing of peat should be worked into the soil at the time of planting and an adequate supply of water especially in dry weather. They also are frost-tender and should be lifted and potted up at the end of summer if you want to keep them for the following season, although I have three plants in a very protected border by the siSe of the house which have survived the last winter. They died down in the winter months and popped up again in the spring and are in flower now. Exposed to hard-frost they would have died out. Try some begonias next season. I'm sure you will love them.