April
April started the same as
January, February and March with more snow you just have to grin and
bear it. Begonias have been slow to move and as a result have not yet
been potted into their final pots. Most are however now on the open
bench and will soon be ready to be moved on.
Pot plants have to be
stripped down, this year I am going to experiment with 2- 3 main shoots
and see what gives the best results. The additional shoots are rooted
as cuttings in below the mist in my propagator, the rooting medium is
plain peat as I have found that the addition of fertiliser often rots
the cuttings. My early cuttings are rooted in a mist propagator that
gives good results.
Some varieties can be
grown from cuttings to produce exhibition cut blooms later in the season
and early cuttings also have the advantage of producing larger tubers
that are easier to store.
Smaller tubers are potted
into 6 or 7-inch pots and these will also produce single flowers later
in the season. It is important not to overpot these as it effects the
quality of the tuber produced later in the year. It is important if you
are growing pot plants to remember that three years down the line these
are the tubers that will be used for exhibition.
