Hi Bashy,

I live in Connecticut, zone 5. Our last expected frost date is around
May 25, I'm told. I start my begonia tubers in March. I place them
in flats on a potting mix about two inches apart and sprinkle some
more mix in and about the tubers, leaving the tops exposed. Under
lights, I keep them moist and avoid watering so that the water pools
in the depression of the tuber. When they are about and inch and a
half high, I transplants them into their permanent pots in a mix I
made up myself of compost, some rich earth from my veg garden, some
vermiculite and perlite and Osmocote fertilizer. I keep them under
lights until they go outside. If the beginning of May is warm enough,
I put the pots outside on my deck and bring them in if the weater is
forecast to be too chilly for them. After June 1, I can leave them
out all the time until they die off in the fall and I store the tubers
for the winter. I hope this helps.

cw in the northwest hills of Connecticut

On Mar 4, 10:16*am, Bashy wrote:
Hi,

I wonder if anyone can give me some advice.
I live in Essex & this year I have 12 Dahlia and 18 Begonia
bulbs/tubers to plant.
This is the first time at planting bulbs (I am a relatively new
gardener) and have read conflicting arguments on various forums.
I would like to get the best and earliest start to my plants. Currently
I do not have a greenhouse or a coldframe. I do however have a 5 tier
growhouse (It cost me £30 from the local Garden centre).
I have read that I can start the begonia bulbs indoors about a month
before the last frost.
Is this true, and when do I know that the last frost has gone?

I have not found any decent advice when it comes to the dahlia's.
When can I start these tubers indoors?
On the instructions that came with the Dahlia's it say's 'plant from
March onwards' , but then further on, under EXPERT ADVICE, it say's
'for early blooms, start the bulbs indoors in April' ???????

Can anyone give me any advice on when's best to start these two plants
indoors and any general advice on planting.
I have already planned my garden plants this year and the Begonia and
Dahlia's are a big part.
I was hoping to put each tuber/bulb in a pot, keep it indoors and when
I start seeing activity, plant it outside in the final position
(obvioulsy as long as it isn't too cold).
Am I wrong in thinking that I can get away with doing this?
If I do plant them in pots and keep them indoors, do they need to be on
a windowsill, or just is a warmish room?

Sorry about this, but this really is only my second year of gardening,
last year I bought all the plants from the Garden centre and it cost me
a fortune. This year I'm hoping to save money and also put on a better
show of flowers.

Also, I've found some good advice on planting the begonia bulbs (on the
surface with the 'hollow' part facing up, but strange advice with the
dahlia's.
I've read that they need to be planted horizontally with the eyes
facing up. What are the eyes? I don't think mine have them, although
they are still in the packets though.

Thanks in advance.

PLEASE HELP.

Regards

--
Bashy