Advantages Of Storing Begonia Tubers As Root Balls

Many begonia growers brush their tubers off before storage. I have never had much luck with this method. I always store mine as a root ball complete with soil or compost, and find it has advantages.

ADVANTAGES FOR STORING
Although I stop watering my begonias in pots around the start of October, I still find they do not really dry out. Consequently, it is for me almost impossible to clean them without breaking the tubers or damaging them in some way. So I just place them in an airy spot to dry them as much as possible before storage, then don't cover until the really severe weather comes. They seem to store well this way with little or no disease problems. We covered lifting begonias last year.

ADVANTAGES FOR PLANTING
Once it becomes clear in early spring that tubers are showing signs of growth, root balls can be watered lightly and placed in a light frost-free place. This helps them along and avoids the need to pot up the larger tubers which are almost impossible to fit into almost any pot.

BEWARE OF VINE WEEVIL GRUBS
The tuber above has been treated as described and can now be planted as it is. However, it will need some treatment for vine weevil grubs which will almost certainly have overwintered with the tubers and will be hiding in the roots somewhere. I use 'Provado Vine Weevil Killer', a stronger dose of thiacloprid.