Grow Begonias from Seed

Begonias are well adapted to shady locations, and they flower almost continuously from the time they are planted until frost. If well tended, they produce a neat, compact outdoor plant. Because of these advantages, more people are interested in starting their own plants. Begonias root very easily from cuttings. Where only a few plants are needed, this may be the best method if stock is available. Nurseries and garden centers also handle begonias for outdoor planting, available as soon as the planting season arrives.

Many people will find purchasing vigorous plants most rewarding. However, the gardener who likes a challenge and needs a fairly large quantity of plants might want to try growing begonias from seeds. Begonia seeds are very small, with about 2,000,000 per ounce. This compares to 9,000 to 10.000 marigold seeds per ounce or 285,000 petunia seeds per ounce. Their small size means they need extreme care in planting for best germination. Therefore, if plants for outdoor use are wanted, seeds must be started promptly.

It may take 4 to 6 months for seedlings to reach a suitable size for outdoor planting. The begonias most used outdoors are the fibrous-rooted types (Begonia semperflorens). They are available in many shades of red, pink and white. Since the seeds are so small, the material used for seeding should be very light, sandy and well drained. Artificial mixes of peat and vermiculite are satisfactory, but careful watering is important to prevent excessive wetness. Before seeding, sterilize pots, flats and the seeding medium. The extremely small seedlings are quite easily damaged by disease. Therefore, cleanliness is important

Level the moistened medium before sowing, then sprinkle the seeds lightly on the surface. Broadcast sowing, rather than sowing in rows, makes sowing easier. Do not cover the seeds, but after sowing wet the surface carefully with a fine mist. This will settle in the seeds. Next, cover the pot or flat with a pane of glass, or slip it into a plastic bag. Put it in a shady place at about 70 degrees, and allow it to remain there until the seedlings appear. This will normally take about two weeks. When seedlings appear, remove the plastic or glass gradually, by first opening the bag and then slipping it off partially and then totally over a period of a few days. Move to a bright window.

As watering is needed, fertilization with a very dilute house plant fertilizer is beneficial. When plants are large enough to handle, they should be planted promptly to individual pots to promote more rapid growth so that they will be ready for the summer garden.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begonia