Tuberous Begonias History& Growing by Worth C. Brown
of each year, but should not be planted outdoors until the weather warms after the last frost, which is around May 1st. Some experienced begonia growers will start tubers earlier indoors to get a head start.
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amed after the French botanist Michel Begon (1638-1710), Begonias are a family of plants with over 2,500 different species found on virtually every continent in the world with the exception of Europe and Antarctica. Only a small fraction of these plants form a tuber or bulb as part of its root system. From these small single flowered species, come the Begonia x tuberhybrida or more commonly known as Tuberous Begonias. These predecessors of the modern day tuberous begonia came from equatorial regions 10,000 feet above sea level where it did not freeze. The most well-known tuberous species, Begonia boliviensis, was discovered in the Andes Mountains sometime in the mid 1800’s. This species was sent to England and was crossed with several other tuberous species eventually creating the large doubled flowered begonias we see today. From England, plants made it to Germany, Holland and the Ghent area of Belgium, where it is the center of begonia production today. My great grandfather, James Brown founder of Brown Bulb Ranch (now Golden State Bulb Growers), went to Europe in 1920 and acquired the first tuberous begonias to be cultivated in the US. Begonias thrive where the weather remains cool, not tolerating much above 80°F during the day and cooling into the 50’s at night. Capitola, with its cool summers and virtually non-freezing winters was found to be an ideal climate. Begonias became the company’s largest crop as well as the largest grower in the world. Capitola became “The Begonia Capital of the World”. Ninety-five years of begonia breeding by the Browns, developed the largest flowered varieties in the world called “Rancho Hybrids”, now known as AmeriHybrid® Begonias. Golden State Bulb Growers was the first commercial grower of tuberous begonias in the US and is the last remaining today. Begonia tubers are available in February
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I like to start in smaller containers about 4” in diameter and transplant to the final container once there are 2-3 full leaves on the plant. This method is particularly helpful if planting later in the garden or into hanging baskets. This allows you to orient the plant correctly. The leaves have a point and the flowers will typically grow in the same direction as the leaf point. Face the leaf points the same direction you want the flowers to face. You can also plant bulbs directly into the final pot, which should be 8” or larger. In either case, cover the top of tuber with ½ to 1” of soil. Most commercial soil mixes from your local nursery or garden center is fine, but look for ones with large particles for good drainage. If started indoors, begonias need to be in a very bright window or under grow lights. Outdoors they do best in bright filtered sunlight throughout the day without direct afternoon sun. An east facing exposure with direct morning sun and afternoon shade will be fine. They can tolerate direct sun if it stays under 70°F. Start them in the brightest possible spot. You can move them to a shadier location later if they appear to burn. Too much shade early and they will stretch for the light. The plant will become weak and fall over. A location with good air flow is also beneficial. Water only when the surface dries, but soil underneath should have some moisture. Never keep them soggy. I don’t start to give fertilizer until the first blooms appear. Use any standard all-purpose fertilizer at half rates to avoid salt build up. Every third watering I use plain water to keep soil leached of any salt. Natural fertilizers like fish emulsion are ideal. Blooming typically begins in July and continues through the summer and fall. Around November, the blooms stop and leaves become pale and yellow. At this time, discontinue watering. Foliage will fall off on its own. The bulb is now dormant and wants to sleep for the
winter. You can choose to dig tubers and store in paper bags labeling each so you know what you have next spring, but I just leave them in the pots and store under the eaves where they’ll remain dry for the winter. The following spring begin to water again and it all starts again for another beautiful summer with blooming begonias. Tubers left in the garden typically survive our mild winters and return the following summer.
Worth C. Brown is a fourth
generation Brown family
member. He grew up in an adobe house built from bricks made from native soil on the Brown Bulb Ranch in Capitola. The house was built by his grandfather Worth A. Brown, where the Target parking lot is now located. He worked in the greenhouses on the Brown Bulb Ranch from the age of 5, watering and caring for the begonia plants, eventually hybridizing the plants to create new varieties. He is currently Technical Advisor for Golden State Bulb Growers.