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Dig up and store Tuberous Begonias?

linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)

17 years ago

I was hoping there was a FAQ on this forum, as I'm sure my questions have been asked before by many. My tuberous begonias are still blooming nicely in pots outside.

Do I dig them up and store them, or store the whole pot in garage (which does freeze) or basement?

Let frost kill foliage as in dahlias? Then let go completely dormant?

Or bring them in before frost as houseplants?

One is a hanging basket bought pre-made, so I'm not sure they are tuberous begoias, but I assume so. Grows upright to about 1 foot then flops down. This has bloomed constantly since May.

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Comments (3)

rain1950
17 years ago
If you're happy with the soil mix; leave them potted. Do NOT let them freeze! The foliage will begin dying long before it get's frosty. The pre-made pot would be easy to tell as the tuber will not be planted very deep. If it's fibrous type, it might do better as a houseplant over winter. I find most of the fibrous types don't over-winter very well.

Once the foliage fails; cut it off flush with the tubers.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
17 years ago
So they must have a natural period of dormancy they require.

I'm hoping we may have another month before first frost, but there are always surprises. There's no sign of slowdown, they're blooming heavily. Some got a late start (they were started outside and it was just too cold).

The pre-made hanging basket one is a knockout. I've GOT to keep that one alive for next summer! The leaves and flowers do look tuberous-type, though leaf form is larger and a little different from the ones I bought bagged as dormant tubers.
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The tuberous kind of begonia should be allowed to be touched by frost...a killing frost that does in their foliage. At that time you then remove the foliage and dig up the bulb, let them dry for a day or so in your garage or shed, then store them in your cool basement, away from light, away from heat, away from water. Make a note of which end is UP...store them in a way you know which is which. Then in March, bring them out and you can put them ontop of the refrigerator--there they might begin to grow a root. Whatever, pot them up, just barely under the soil surface...their tips might even be seen, water them, give them sunlight and pretty soon a little bit of fuzz shows on the surface....it might look like like mildew...but its not...its the bulb beginning to grow. Keep the soil damp...but not wet. Tuberous begonia is one of the slowest forming bulbs and it might be June or July before they come to sizable growth and bloom. The bloom they produce is worth the wait.
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In the fall, if there are tubers, you can store them just like the other dahlias. No special treatment. You will probably have more plants next year as a result. I know that I did. :)
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The myth of dahlias 'needing' a killing frost is rather silly, when you consider the fact that they are descended from a dahlia originating in Mexico, which is much closer to the equator. I know folks that live in non-freezing areas who cut their plants without a freeze, and dig/store their tubers with wonderful results the next season. Some might ask why they bother digging if 'they don't have to.' There are several reasons. 1. Most serious growers plant out only one tuber instead of allowing the whole clump to produce many shoots, as you get the most vigour and better blooms from a single tuber. 2. Digging and dividing allows growers to increase their stock for planting out, sharing or selling. 3. Instead of Northern winters, Southerners go through a rainy season, which can rot out entire clumps left in the garden. (The most successful growers that overwinter clumps in the ground cut flush to the ground and COVER the tops with plastic to keep water from pooling in the soil.) Hope this helps explain things a bit.
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bean starter, I agree that leaving them in the pot can be a simple successful way of wintering them over. I thought however I should mention that not everyoneÂs basement or garage is the same. My basement for example has an oil burner that tends to keep it rather warm (high 60s) and damp, I have repeatedly been unsuccessful over wintering tubers as they want cool (50Âs), dry, and dark. Cloud9 made a suggestion about using a picnic cooler for winter storage which I am going to try on the steps of my bulkhead area. I would suggest that you be open to experimenting and fingers crossed youÂll meet your tubers requirements this winter. Katy
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joy4me
17 years ago
Hi linnea;

Tube begonias will not survive winters in ground in your location. After hit by frost, cut stems to the ground. Store in a dry place for a few weeks. Then, gently remove soil, roots and stem. Sprinkle with a fungicide and put ind a paper bag to distribute the powder. They must be stored where its dark and very dry. You can also put into dry peat moss, sand or vermiculite for storage (at about 50 degrees) as long as it's kept very dry. Caladiums are treated the same way.

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