National Begonia Society

East Anglian Diary 2006 John Taylor
		A series following progress in the greenhouse of Society Membership Secretary, Area Rep. & British Champion. "I have grown tuberous Begonias for the last 35 years and grown species and rexes for about 15 years. I became East Anglian Area Representative in 1994. I have shown in all types of Begonia classes, but mostly enjoy designing and exhibiting stands for charity."
	19th. February. 1. Here's how my tubers are stored. They are cleaned off and the labels attached with an elastic band then laid in plastic trays with a sheet of newspaper at the bottom and another sheet on the top and then they are stacked one on top of the other and placed in my brick built garage which remains about 40°f through the winter. 2. I wrote in our bulletin about stop start tuber growth, due to hot and then cold weather. Well here is a tuber of the variety Flamboyant that seems to have had three attempts at growth. Theoretically you should be able to split it up and get three plants from it, so it is probably a bonus. 3. These are my rexes etc. ticking over through the winter, I try to keep this greenhouse at about 45° to 50°f. I will then repot them on at the beginning of March taking off most of the old compost and repotting them back in the same size pot as they like to be pot bound. . . 4. This is a tuber of Ivory White a hanging basket variety from New Zealand. I started in November and am hoping to acclimatize it ready for next season. . 5. These are a couple of cuttings that I have taken off Ivory White on Boxing Day. The first year I try to take as many cuttings as possible hoping to build up some stock. I also feel that if you get any new variety then take cuttings as soon as you can as they often do better in your conditions than the original tuber.




.		2005 DECEMBER JULY - OCTOBER MARCH - JUNE