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Post by Nucleus on Mar 29, 2018 15:13:50 GMT
Hi folks, could you give me any advice/tips on these please? www.jparkers.co.uk/bulbs-tubers/begonias/cascading-begonias?p=2The info states "from February onwards". They'd be okay to start now and deliver a nice basket display this year? Apparently they make for a gorgeous basket, and if my understanding is correct you'd need 3 tubers in a typical basket 12/14 inch? I read the planting and growing instructions and the starting info seems a bit specialised... I couldn't just plant the tubers to start in compost (Miracle-Gro Enriched) in a pot now - then transfer into baskets? Edit: Didn't see the video tutorials at the foot of the page, he's planting them direct into compost in a basket and also confirms three in a basket. |
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Post by Nucleus on Mar 30, 2018 8:43:36 GMT
Well having found a bit of info, I've ordered some to have a go. Reading different things though, when starting them off, some say cover the tuber, others don't mention covering it.
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Post by SueA on Mar 30, 2018 8:52:55 GMT
Hi Nucleus, I think the written description does sound a bit of a faff, I usually just start mine off in a tray of any old compost in the greenhouse or sometimes in the kitchen just to give them a bit of a headstart but if you're planting them up now then you might as well start them off in the basket if you have one ready, the only thing that Geoff didn't mention is that you should keep the basket somewhere frost free for now, in a greenhouse, coldframe etc. or you could do as you were thinking & plant them up in pots, keep indoors, harden them off after the last frosts (put outdoors in the day, under cover at night for about 5-7 days) & then plant up in your baskets. Also the tubers/corms should be planted with the dip at the top, I don't think it matters if you cover the top or not when starting them off but I would cover them a little in the baskets to make sure they're anchored in well.  |
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Post by Nucleus on Mar 30, 2018 9:29:45 GMT
Really helpful and appreciated SueA, thanks a mil. |
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Post by Nucleus on Apr 5, 2018 9:24:39 GMT
Well they just arrived from J Parker's. Hope to have some suitable pots to start them off later today/tomorrow. After watching a few vids I'm quite comfortable of how to start them off now, however it may be that they have to go out in my polythene greenhouse, my home just doesn't have window sills that catch sufficient light. As you can see, quite a few of them have little bits of what I can best describe as wood shavings in the convex bit (the bit that faces up when planting). What's that, just something they use in packing? Surprised to find a free gift in there. A bag of 40 Butterfly Gladioli Mixed 8/10. No idea what to do with those so Google here I come... Incidentally, what does the 8/10 mean?  The Begonia packs show 5/6 and the Gladioli packs show 8/10?  |
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Post by SueA on Apr 6, 2018 8:52:58 GMT
That will be just wood shavings or similar used in storage Nucleus, you can just pick it out, but that shows you that's the top where the shoots will come from in the hollow. The numbers are just the size of the corms/tubers, you generally pay more for larger sizes. I think your begonias will be fine outside in your small greenhouse when you've planted them up as the weather is picking up a bit now, maybe if the temperature is forecast to drop a lot overnight I'd cover the trays/pots up with a bit of horticultural fleece or newspaper just in case & remove it the next morning. |
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Post by Granny Goose on Apr 22, 2018 18:50:19 GMT
I just shoved my free butterfly gladioli in pots, Nucleus... I got 40 from Parkers too, but haven't grown them before, so wasn't sure what to do with them!I agree with Sue, your begonias should be OK in the greenhouse by now. I lost all the ones I'd tried to over winter, so I binned them, and like you am starting again with new ones. Mine have been potted up for a couple of weeks now and are starting to show signs of life in a cold greenbouse.
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Post by grindle on Apr 23, 2018 5:12:13 GMT
I started my begonias off a few weeks ago in an unheated greenhouse, and most of them are now showing signs of growth Nucleus so they will be fine. I got the free gladioli as well, potted them all up and have kept them in the greenhouse too, hopefully I will see something happening to them soon |
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Post by Nucleus on Apr 23, 2018 6:47:30 GMT
I just shoved my free butterfly gladioli in pots, Nucleus... I got 40 from Parkers too, but haven't grown them before, so wasn't sure what to do with them!I agree with Sue, your begonias should be OK in the greenhouse by now. I lost all the ones I'd tried to over winter, so I binned them, and like you am starting again with new ones. Mine have been potted up for a couple of weeks now and are starting to show signs of life in a cold greenbouse. I started my begonias off a few weeks ago in an unheated greenhouse, and most of them are now showing signs of growth Nucleus so they will be fine. I got the free gladioli as well, potted them all up and have kept them in the greenhouse too, hopefully I will see something happening to them soon Thank you both. I potted up my begonias, and although I really had no need of them I potted up about half of the free gladioli, both on 07 April in my polythene greenhouse. Obviously, having no prior experience I've no idea when I may see some signs of life from the begonias. However, I did notice yesterday that the first gladioli are starting to show through, and following the guide I read I planted them at about 4 inch deep.  |
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Post by Granny Goose on Apr 23, 2018 17:38:18 GMT
Thanks Nucleus... no sign of life from my gladdies yet, probably because I left the pots outside....think I'll move them into the greenhouse and hope they warm up a bit. Yours look healthy!😀
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Post by Nucleus on Apr 30, 2018 12:54:27 GMT
Begonias potted up 07 April in polythene greenhouse. As a rough guide, when should I expect some signs of growth? I guess I'm looking for something shooting from the indent in the corm - right? |
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Post by Granny Goose on Apr 30, 2018 17:40:59 GMT
You should see a small leaf Nucleus, emerging from the corm....but maybe not just yet, probably about a month to 6 weeks after planting.
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Post by SueA on May 1, 2018 8:02:03 GMT
They can be a bit slow to appear Nucleus but make sure the compost hasn't completely dried out, you'll get little bumps coming up in the indent & suddenly they'll be off & running!  |
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Post by Nucleus on May 1, 2018 9:35:52 GMT
You should see a small leaf Nucleus, emerging from the corm....but maybe not just yet, probably about a month to 6 weeks after planting. They can be a bit slow to appear Nucleus but make sure the compost hasn't completely dried out, you'll get little bumps coming up in the indent & suddenly they'll be off & running! Thank you both, appreciated. Just a quick update pic of those free Gladioli bulbs, of which I potted a few. Growing plants etc, caring for them, gives a lovely sense of satisfaction doesn't it.  |
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Post by Granny Goose on May 1, 2018 18:04:59 GMT
It certainly does, Nucleus ☺
No sign of life yet from my free gladdies, but I'm GLAD that yours are doing well 😁😁
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The Begonia packs show 5/6 and the Gladioli packs show 8/10?
