Tuberous Begonia

Tuberous begonias are excellent plants for shady flowerbeds. They'll give you constant color throughout the entire summer and into the early fall, but they're not winter hardy here.

You can get an early start by planting begonia tubers in February. Set them in peat moss or a soil mix containing:

• 1 part peat
• 1 part vermiculite
• 1 part soil

Cover them with about 1/2 inch of the mix. Then put them in a warm location, about 70 degrees, with indirect sunlight. Water the tubers sparingly until they sprout, then keep them slightly moist at all times.

Grow your begonias in an east window during the winter and early spring months. Turn the plants about once a week to keep them growing evenly. Use a liquid fertilizer meant for blooming plants but cut it to half strength. Wait 2 to 3 weeks between applications.

You can move your begonias to the outdoor garden after the last frost in spring. This is usually mid-May. Do not bury the tubers any deeper in garden soil than they were in your indoor containers. Be sure they are not exposed to full summer sunlight. Early morning or late afternoon sun is beneficial.

Tuberous begonias need ample moisture but they will not thrive in heavy, poorly drained soils. An ideal location is one where water drains away from the begonia bed.

In fall, lift begonias after their leaves turn yellow or are frost-damaged. "Cure" or dry them in a warm room for 2 or 3 days then remove all foliage. Store them in the basement in bags of peat at about 50 to 55 degrees. Begin the cycle again next year.