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FEBRUARY.
February is the real start for me even though in
January, begonia seed is started (A) along with my basket tubers with a few
very small cutting tubers (B). These are started early to make sure that the
heated benches are clear for when the cutting tubers go in. Mind you at
the end of Jan. I still have some 50 plus cuttings taken from the end of
last year still growing, mainly leaf cuttings of varieties that I am
short of., This is the best way of making sure you carry through those
few varieties that are hard to keep as well. Any plant brought at one of
the shows is stripped of everything possible that might root. Last year
at the south coast mini show Dave Coates gave me a single stem plant of
Joyce Milhulka, I took in excess of 15 cuttings last count still had 12
cuttings still growing. Don't worry about a flower, safe guard by taking
cuttings. Now as you can see in the pictures of my seed it has not been a
good germination, out of 5 crosses 3 seemed to have failed 1 cross only a
few plants & the other a total of about 100, not many for the front
garden this year.
The start of February is when I harvest my cutting tubers these are
then sorted (C), all the small tubers are put straight into the hot bed in
trays (D) all I use is plain peat nothing added. Most of these small tubers
unless very vigorous will only reach a 5inch pot. The larger cutting
tubers are put on the bench 2nd. week of February. Some of
the cutting tubers are kept back for a later show. The early seed &
cutting tubers are placed under 2 grow lights these extend the daylight
by 6 hours, till 22.00 (E). Towards the end of the month the main tubers are
removed from their storage of polystyrene boxes
(F). Those selected for the
early shows are placed on the bench & sprayed daily for a week to assist
those that haven't pipped yet. prior to being placed in their trays &
put on the hot bed.
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