Beguiling tuberous begonias are midsummer favorites. They have spectacular flowers, both singles and doubles, ranging from two inches to eight inches across. Flower colors are solid red, pink, yellow, orange, and white, except in the picotee class where margin colors are deeper. Shapes are varied, resembling a rosebud, camellia, narcissus, or carnation.
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Plant begonia tubers indoors in March or April. Keep them warm (at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit) in bright light. When roots develop (usually in three weeks), replant the tubers one inch below the surface of potting soil in a large pot.
Transplant outdoors after danger of frost is past. Protect them from winds that might break their brittle stems--staking the plants may help. Fertilize every other week with a quarter-teaspoon of 5-10-5 fertilizer for peak growth. Keep plant food at least six inches from stem.
Dig begonias about the time of the first frost. Leave stem and dry foliage attached. Set them in a sunny spot for several days. If stems detach easily, remove them; otherwise, store the whole plant. Pack in vermiculite, sawdust, sphagnum moss, or sand. Store at 45 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep packing material dry unless tubers shrivel. Then sprinkle with water.
