Begonia Fairyland Mixed

Attention: Begonia seed is very small, carefully open the packet on two sides with a pair of scissors.

Sow Begonia semperflorens Fairyland Mixed from January to March in a seed tray. Use a good quality soil mixed with a third sand; a mixture that you will sift on the surface to bind the seed to its substrate. Before sowing, lightly press the substrate with a board and moisten it lightly, preferably by immersing the base of the seed tray in a water bucket so that the water is absorbed by capillary action. Sow your seeds delicately. Do not cover the seeds. Place your seed tray in light, without direct sunlight, at a temperature of 25°C to 27°C.

The seeds will germinate in 15 to 60 days. As soon as the plants are manageable, transplant them into 7cm (3in) buckets. Keep the soil moist but not excessively during growth; water with a fine mist or with a small hand sprayer. Once the plants are strong enough, transplant them into 15cm (6in) diameter pots or directly into your planters, which you should always keep warm (20-24°C). Finally, 15 days before their final placement, start gradually acclimating them to a temperature of 15°C.

In late May or early June, the temperature in the garden will be warm enough to plant your young plants. Choose a shaded or sunny location. When planting in a bed, add a good shovel of compost to each planting hole. Space your plants at least 20cm (8in) apart.

Regularly remove faded flowers to maintain their beauty and promote renewal.

In autumn, bring the pots indoors to a veranda or heated greenhouse, or wait for the first frost and bury the begonias during deep digging.