Diary  2009
A year in the life of an Amateur Begonia Grower

 FEBRUARY
   In my past experience this month is all rather hectic. Not so this year as the cutting tubers, being so small, were planted last month. The weather has been the dominant topic. The first substantial snow fall that the greenhouse has experienced and the automatic roof vents opening for the first time in 2009.

 (A&B) The month was heralded in with snow, three consecutive days, which is very rare in the South West. This hung around for a week before the final wet snow fall, and next day it had all thawed. It was rather picturesque and at the same time surreal in the greenhouse on my daily visit to wipe off the condensation from the propagator covers. The second half of the month was quite spring like.
(C)  A selection of the named pendulas that have been over wintered in the garage utilising cat litter trays and peat. I rarely have any problems in keeping pendulas. The only one that causes troubles is Chandelier. No different this year as half a tuber had withered away but the other half is sound and will survive. However, as it grows quite “cabbage like”, it is not one of my favourites.
(D) Pendulas, prior to planting up. To the top left are Firedance, many of these are 2007 tubers. I am surprised on how much growth they have made. Some have already started piping. Should make a good display this year. I do not bother to heat treat pendulas before planting, just putting them in a mixture of peat and Perlite suitably moistened.

(E) Valentine’s Day was celebrated in the traditional style by planting pendulas! Three trays in propagators and one in a cat litter tray, unheated. I like to plant around mid February to give an opportunity to take cutting and as a result produce better and more rounded baskets. More about this later. I have obtained some replacement Flamboyant tubers from Parkers, Manchester and also three more Champagne from a garden centre (Taylor’s Bulbs). Some of the old Flamboyant are now small football size and are running out of steam. I forgot to take any cuttings last year. I have various different strains of Champagne, some of dubious quality, so I’m starting again.
(F) These are my foliage begonias, bar one! I just cannot over winter them with my facilities. The greenhouse is not heated, in the house it is too warm and arid at times and although I have managed to previously keep a couple in the conservatory, this year, with plunging temperatures at night, they have failed. The large pot is/was Tiger Paws that has been a treat over the last three years. See Clevedon Show 2009 write up to see it in its full glory. Luckily I took four cuttings that are struggling along. I pin my hopes this year on a Bowerii Tiger cutting obtained from Lakin Earl. Very similar to Tiger Paws but a bit more luscious. I really do admire foliage begonias and those grown by The Taskers, Vince Potts et al are tremendous. I wish I could do them justice.
(G) This is my “full set” of propagators. Must admit they are not all begonias. There are two trays of cabbage and lettuce hidden among them. Soon as they germinate they will be moved off. All the covers are wiped clean each morning which is quite a pleasant chore and you see what progress, or not, is being made.
(H) Talk about progress, these are the pea sized cutting tubers put in the last week of January. Within ten day the first signs of the new season sprung into life. Beverley B and Apricot Loveliness being the first to show, closely followed by Jenny Barclay. The purists may hate this but I have rooted around in the modules and I have lost twenty tubers which is pleasing. The remainder, not showing, are starting to pip and are firm and solid. I also corrected those that had been planted upside down!

   Many of these are overdue for their first pots and are no doubt a bit root bound. Problem is that the Bulrush compost I intend to use again is not yet in. This is now imminent I am told. The greenhouse is chock-a-block with begonias and pleiones down one side and daffodils, being grown for the first time, on the other. Space is getting to be at premium.

(E) Compost is always a matter for continued debate. I try to keep things simple by using a quality brand, sticking to it, and getting to know it. There are a number of local composts around, all predominately sedge peat based, from the Somerset Levels. However, I came across this Godwins peat, now stored on the garage floor, which is a mix a sphagnum peat, sedge peat, Perlite and nutrients. Growers of old have rated it highly so I’m going to use it this year in baskets and containers. I plan to use Bulrush again for my tuberous begonias if it is available.
(F) This is my propagating area in the greenhouse. You will see a Parwin heater that I have never used for heating, only ventilation in the summer months. This may change this year due to earlier planting. I tend to grow in cool conditions as this improves the root system and does not draw the plants in the early stages of growth. The propagators have evolved in numbers over the years and last year I obtained a three tray propagator with a variable temperature control.
(G) The cutting tubers were very small this year, pea sized rather than walnut size as in 2008. As a result I planted them on 22/23 January rather than the first weeks of February as previously. I plant then in 24 section modules, five trays, equals 120 cuttings, supplemented by a few from my begonia friends around the county. The medium I use is a mix of Irish peat moss and Perlite. The covers are taken off daily and wiped clean.
(H) I have had reasonable success with seeds but quite frankly it is too much trouble for my requirements. However, to the bottom right is a tray of bulbils B. gracilis martiana (hollyhock begonia), from Dennis Need. The one mature cutting is B. Kookaburra taken on 1st September last year from a plant given me on that day by Ron Haines of Radstock. I have trouble over wintering foliage plants with the exception of B. Tiger Paws which has done me proud over two years. Not this year though, as it has succumbed to the usual plight. Before cutting it down in an attempt to revive I took four cuttings that look quite good.