Begonias are one of those plants that many people do n’t take full vantage of . Sure , they ’re pretty produce in the garden , but many of them are edible and they all appeal a range of pollinators .
I implant eatable begonia in my garden for multiple intention . I like the gustatory sensation , they pull bees and they do n’t bear in mind wraith , so I still get bright prime where many others wo n’t acquire .
If you require to add to your blossom garden , let ’s get extend on raise begonias .
Best Varieties of Begonia
I must make it clear from the beginning . Not all begonia are comestible . I say this because begonia is one of the most common flowers planted in many place .
Public ballpark and green areas are often flooded with the amazing color of begonias , but it does n’t think of you could seize a handful while you sit eat lunch in the sun .
If you want to wipe out your plants , be certain to get the right form .
If you ’re just looking to add some stunner to your garden or to attract pollinator , you could go with any type you opt .
Tuberous Begonia
The flower , leaves , and stems of tuberous begonias ( Begonia X Tuberosa ) are comestible and can order from sweet to tart . The stems can be used in spot of rhubarb since both plants contain the same substance be intimate as oxalic superman , which gives them the tart flavor .
Tuberous begonias can be upright cultivator or hang back in nature , and they add up in multiple unlike color .
‘ Dusty Rose ’ features frilly pink bloom and deep green succulent leaves . ‘ Dragon Wing Pink ’ can wield hot , humid weather and does n’t mind a bit of shadowiness .
‘ Encanto Orange ’ has flowers that look like vivid red fuchsia blossoms in masses that trail along the plant life . ‘ Nonstop Fire ’ has monumental threefold blossoms that keep going all season long .
Fibrous Begonia
This class of begonia includes the plebeian wax begonia ( Begonia cucullata ) .
This eccentric is a common gage ( it hasnaturalizedin Florida and Hawaii ) , as well as a lovely tame flower . It can be eaten both cooked or raw , and the overweight leaves are more or less less bitter than the tuberous begonia . The leave are red to brown in coloration and the flowers are usually pink , whitened , or reddened .
Wax begonia tolerate more tincture than tuberous begonia .
‘ Charm ’ is a peculiarly pretty diverseness , sport undimmed pink bloom with a jaundiced mall . ‘ Richmond ’ has green foliation with red on the underside , so it ’s everlasting in a string up basketball hoop .
Hardy Begonia
Hardy begonias ( Begonia Grandis ) , as you may have guessed , can produce in cool areas than some other varieties . This is n’t the character to go for if you want to eat your plants , however .
‘ Alba ’ has low white efflorescence on elegant cerise stems . It does well even in full shade . ‘ Heron ’s Pirouette ’ has dainty pink flowers and raise in a lovely clump that gets only a fundament or two tall .
How to Plant Begonias
Begonias grow well in USDA zone 9 to 11 , while the hardy kind can produce in zones 6 - 9 . Begonias can also be develop as an annual if you desire .
depend on the type , begonia can permit shade , fond tint , or full sun as long as it ’s not too hot . Morning and afternoon sun is proficient .
Begonia can be well-chosen in most soil type , but the best eccentric is loose loamy soil that enfeeble well . draw a bead on for a pH of 5.2 to 6.0 .
When to Plant
Transplant your seedling when you are certain all hazard of frost has passed . Begonia is rime bid and a consistent temperature above 50 ° F is required .
Begonia should be imbed about 7 to 10 inch apart .
Planting Seed
Planting begonia from seed is a difficult job . The seeds are petite and sprouting rates are often highly lowly .
If you purchase begonia seeds you ’re likely to get pelleted seed . These are bigger and easier to care . Natural seeds are tiny .
Planting under lights will give you an improved chance of germination . You will need to adjust the light for at least 14 hours each day .
Fill a container 3/4 full with seed raising mix . Sprinkle a small phone number of seeds on the surface and push down gently . Do n’t bury them as begonia wo n’t develop unless they have spark .
Spray with tender water supply to get the soil moist and keep spraying every day or so to avoid the mix dry out out .
direct the pot in a plastic travelling bag and then direct the whole affair under the luminosity . Make certain your pot and plastic bag are n’t too close-fitting to the bulb .
In about 14 day you should see sprouting . Remove the pot from the bag to get good air flow . Leave the mass under the lights until well established .
When each plant life has three leaves , transplant to individual pots . Water gently because begonia this small are tenuous .
Planting Stems or Rhizomes
This is my preferred way of life of propagating because it ’s so much less intriguing than seeds .
Take a 4 inch slip of a fore and take any leaves from the bottom half . Bury it vertically into a damp source raising mix with half of the stem cling out of the soil .
Keep the admixture moist and , in a few week , a unexampled plant should have give itself . Give it a little towboat to see if it resists and find out for unexampled leafage mould .
Transfer to a bigger pot as it vex larger .
you may do the same with a small bit of rhizome . Plant it horizontally in the pot and cover with an inch or two of seed raising mix . Keep it moist and in a few calendar week , you should see a new plant emerge .
Leaf Cuttings
you may imbed begonia leaf and get a plant from that . It takes a couple of months and is not as reliable as the other methods , but it ’s always worth a try .
Take a sound leaf and plant the theme remnant into seed lift mix about 1/2 an column inch deep . Mist well with water and place the container in a plastic bag . Put this in a warm placement with plenty of light .
Keep the soil moist and see if you get another works stock .
Container Planting
begonia get well in container and add colorful charm to any area .
Any upright change looks good in specimen containers , while the crawling or low - growing type are perfect for hanging pot or mixed container .
Use a good quality potting mix that drain well , but does n’t dry out . Begonia wo n’t survive sitting in weewee , so ensure the potting mix never gets waterlogged . They favor consistent moisture .
Your choice of container should match the ripe size of your plant . You may need to stake your begonia , depending on the height .
You ’ll also need to ensure good flow of air . In stuffy experimental condition , begonia flowers droop and expect unhealthful . That intend that you should n’t overcrowd the container , and do n’t put it in an sphere without decent atmosphere circulation .
Planting begonias in containers is a sensitive choice in colder areas because you’re able to move them in spite of appearance before the cold affects them .
Caring for Begonias
begonia require unconstipated maintenance , admit food , water , and some pruning to keep them looking their best and healthy enough to fight off disease .
Fertilizer
I feed my edible begonia with good quality , organic fluent fertilizer each hebdomad . One targeted at flowers at 1/4 strength is a smart estimation .
begonia do best if they get regular nutrient . Instead of monthly or bi - monthly eating , they should get steady and frequent feedings , about once a calendar week , but not at full strength .
Water
irrigate the grease around the base of the plant . Do n’t countenance the soil dry out out , but do n’t allow it to become waterlogged . You ’re purpose for a consistent texture something like a well - wrung out leech .
Pruning
If your begonias get leggy and scraggly , you’re able to cut them back . They ’re quite hardy in this respect .
I ’ve had sad - depend begonia and cut them back to a few column inch off the soil and they ’ve bounced back .
Shape your begonia , deadhead it and prune if demand on a regular basis throughout the grow time of year .
you’re able to cut the plant back in winter and dig up the rhizomes if needed . Store them in a dry place over winter .
My area is n’t that inhuman , so some year I will cut the plant right back and leave it in the ground to regrow next twelvemonth .
Companion Planting for Growing Begonia
you may usually find me grow begonia near my vegetable and yield trees to pull in bees .
I have also set nasturtiums in pots in amongst the begonia .
begonia are one of those plants that you could plant with just about anything that has similar growing requirements , so consider about hostas , impatiens , caladium , and the same when you ’re planning your garden .
Common Problems and Solutions for Growing Edible Begonia
Begonia can be affected by a wide mountain range of pests and disease , but with well garden hygiene and healthy dirt , you may downplay a lot of problems .
Powdery Mildew
This fungus thrives on works with short airflow and in area that are warm and dry with in high spirits humidness .
It ’s placeable as a ironical powdery substance all over the grow leaves on your begonia .
Make certain you have good flow of air between industrial plant and be sure to irrigate at the base , rather than on the foliage .
If you bulge out to see it forming , spray plants with a 50:50 premix of water and milk , and remove and throw by any infected foliation .
Mealybugs
mealy bug are sap - sucking insect that weaken your plants and excrete honeydew that can attract sooty mold to your grow begonias .
Controlling mealybugs can be hard . They have hard skin , which protects them from many chemicals .
Prune aside areas of the plant that are infect . You should also buy or encourage beneficial insects like ladybeetle and lacewing .
Neem oilapplied early on and regularly can also make a big conflict .
Thrips
Another muggins - sucking louse , thripid are normally found in expectant number . They suck the sap and commonly go away little black excretions all over your plant .
The best control of thripid is a defense to prevent them . Use a good quality , organic insecticidal Georgia home boy or neem oil . Make the plant unpalatable for them in the first station .
Mites
There are several variety and they are all midget . Sometimes you see them because you ’ve regain their webbing , rather than the existent bugs themselves .
Mites manducate on the leaves and make them look unsightly and unhealthy . They can also cause a flora to become sick or stunt .
Mites work up up promptly , so control them with an constitutive nebuliser containing sulphur , or neem oil to suffocate them .
Keep your begonias in the ground percipient of pot .
Stem Rot
If you ’ve overwatered your begonia , or the soil is n’t drain enough , you may get stem rot .
You ’ll discover your begonia yellowing and getting weak . No matter what you do , you ca n’t redeem it .
By the time you notice the impairment in the foliage , it ’s unmanageable to store your industrial plant . Remove the plant completely , along with some of the soil where the plant was .
To nullify stem rot , check that your soil is well - draining and do n’t over water your garden .
Eating Begonias
Many begonias are not edible , so ensure you plant one of the edible varieties if you plan to dig in . Ask for advice at your local greenhouse if necessary . Also note that in some variety , only the leave-taking , and blossom are edible . Others can be feed from etymon to crown .
B. annulata , B. auriculata , B. barbata , B. gracilis , B. grandis var evansiana , B. hernandioides , B. malabarica , B. mannii , B. picta , B. palmata , B. plebeja , B. Semperflorens , B. king and B. roxburghiiare all edible to some degree .
you may use the works to make afternoon tea , sauces , in salads , or even fry .
Medicinally , throughout history , they ’ve been used as a salve for wounds and to cover coughs and fever .
Begonia should only be eaten in moderation and you should avoid the plant if you have gout , kidney stones or rheumatoid arthritis due to the oxalic acid .
Begonia are toxic to many animal , so be wary of your livestock . Pets should n’t be allowed to get into the plant , either .
verify that if you ’re not growing the begonias yourself that they have n’t been treated with pesticide .
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