How to Winter Over Tuberous Begonias

Tuberous begonias provide a bounty of flowers in a range of colors from white and yellow to red. They bloom throughout most of the summer and early fall, adding ongoing color throughout the warm months. They are versatile, growing well in both containers and in beds as well as in shaded areas that other flowering plants do poorly in. Tuberous begonias are not winter hardy and must be dug up and winterized in order to grow and bloom the following year.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Knife
• Newspaper
• Plastic bags
• Peat moss

1. Reduce watering of begonias in containers and beds in early autumn. Remove any buds the plants form starting six weeks before the first expected fall frost to encourage the plants to enter dormancy.
2. Allow the foliage to yellow and die back naturally. Dig up the begonia roots once the foliage has died off or after the first hard frost, whichever occurs first.
3. Cut stems down to 5 inches high using a sharp knife. Spread the roots on a layer of newspaper in a dry room away from direct light to dry. Let them dry for approximately two weeks or until the stems become loose.
4. Pull off the remaining stems. Brush off the soil and small roots, but do not wash the tuberous roots.
5. Fill perforated plastic bags with dry peat moss. Bury the roots in the peat moss, then store them in a dry room at approximately 40 to 50 degrees F.
6. Check the roots monthly for signs of rot or disease. Discard any tubers that become soft or begin withering.

Tips & Warnings

• Store begonia tubers in a refrigerator, on a covered porch or in an unheated garage.

• Use vermiculite for storage if you don’t have peat moss.

• Never wash the roots in water, as this can lead to rot.

• Avoid breaking apart tubers when drying and storing them, as this leaves them open to disease organisms.