Help needed with propogating/starting begonias please

[Jitterbug]

I wonder if anyone on the forum could tell me how to start my begonias.  :-\  Do I start them half covered with compost (like the dahlias) which I can also take shoots off to plant on or must they be covered with compost and left alone to sprout?  The AG magazine was not too clear about this.. ???  I do not have a heated propogator or greenhouse but I believe if I place them under polythene on top of my kitchen cupboards they should be snug and warm and do OK??

This is the first year that I am attempting begonias and must admit I fell in love with these hanging basket ones when I spied them in the nursery (they are orange).  Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

[Jitterbug]

[Larkspur]

Hi opinions on how to start begonia tubers off have changed over the years. It used to be tought that they should be pressed into the top of the compost but now (unless it has changed again!) they are normally just covered in compost in the trays or pots. They do not need too much heat to start back into life (60 degrees is plenty) so the top of a kitchen cupboard should be just fine. Keep an eye on them. Once the have good shoots they can be divided, each section having a shoot as with dahlias. However, I have not found this process without risk so unless you need to do it I wouldn't. Oh and don't start them yet, it is too early.  ;)

[Mimi]

When ever I split a begonia corm, I put some flowers of sulphur on the cut surface to stop any rot starting.  Had 100% success so far.  I plant them about 2 inches down in a 4 inch pot, stick them on the window cill and away they go. ;D

[Jitterbug]

Hello Mimi and Larkspur - many thanks for you advice and hints.

I had already put my corms in compost on top of the kitchen cabinets as the AG magazine said that I could start that from now until end March.  Oops - maybe I should just move them out of the warm again and back into the potting shed - what do you think??

[Larkspur]

Hi jitterbug, the problem you have with starting them this early is what do you do with them when they are ready to go outside in April and can't. I would hang on a bit if I were you. I shall be doing one hanging basket made up entirely of saved red trailing begonias but I shan't start them off till the very end  of February at the very earliest. ;)