Do I have to dig begonia up every fall and replant every spring?
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Deb
+8
I live in Maine, Zone 4. I received the Begonia tubers to plant in the garden after the snow is gone. Do I have to dig them up every fall and replant every spring? I would like to mulch them well and leave them in the ground until spring, since I don't have a place to store them. The ground does freeze here, but I planted an Easter lily here 2 years ago and it returns every year some with new growth. When I looked them up in my Simon and Schuster'S planting guide book, it said it was hardy in zone 5. I would appreciate any information on tuberous bulbs and replanting or not.The tuberous Begonias were good for zone 3.
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Hi Deb, I don't think Begonia's can take freezing. My Dad lives in upstate NY and they bring their bulbs in every fall. Here's a link that may help: https://www.longfield-gardens.com/article/All-About-Begonias
Good luck!
I would recommend that you dig them up every fall and bring them in and store them in vermiculate or perlite in a pail in a cool place. I am in Zone 3 and I would never leave them outside during the winter. The bulbs have a lot of water in them so they would freeze very easily.
https://www.gardensalive.com/product/ybyg-bring-in-your-begonias
There are begonias that do not have bulbs and it is hard to tell the difference in the plant until you have to move or save it.
They need lifted in your area Non-stop begonias are a seeded double-flowered type of tuberous begonia (Begonia x tuberhybrida). This means that they are started from seed, grow and flower in just one season. They will develop a tuber that can be lifted in fall and overwintered indoors. Some gardeners prefer to overwinter these and other tuberous begonias as houseplants indoors. Just move the plants to a sunny window or under artificial lights in fall before the first frost. Keep the soil slightly moist and the plants growing throughout the winter. Or lift the tubers out of the soil after a light frost has killed the foliage. Allow the tubers to dry for several days, remove dry foliage and soil, pack in peat moss and store in a cool (45 to 55 degree) location.let the foliage die completely back(this forms/sends the energy back into tubers)before you remove it,if you can pull it off easily it's ready to come off.
Hi Lynn, Thank you for the info. on my situation with tuberous Begonias. It looks as though I have to dig them up, or plant them in a planter so I can take it inside for the winter months. Thanks...Deb
Just a clarification. I had planted a row of store bought begonias in a long planter and when I went to dig them up to save them there were no tubers on them. I was really disappointed so decided to just discard them rather than overwinter them and try again the next Spring. Good luck with yours. They have beautiful flowers.