This yr I made a significant investment in growing Tuberous Begonias . Two years ago , while attending the Chealsea Flower Show , I consider an amazing display of giant Tuberous Begonias grown by the prestigious British firm Blackmore & Langdon . I was conversant with the business firm , mostly for their accolade winning displays and strains of Delphinium- they are the world ’s premier agriculturalist , and if you do n’t believe me , just Google B&L Delphiniums , and make trusted you are induct .
I notice a few years ago that Blackmore & Langdon Tuberous Begonias were being carry in a partnership through the US firm , White FLower Farm , but some medulla ( tuber ) were selling for $ 60 and $ 75 dollar sign US , with one variety selling for an astonishing $ 125 ! Upon visiting White Flower Farm the undermentioned summertime , I enter one of their greenhouses and instantly I could see why these plants were so expensive . All I could say is wow . Still , $ 125 for a tuberous begonia is far too outrageous for even me .
My resolution ? I order my B&L Exhibition begonias lineal from England , from the Blackmore and Langdon internet site . Here is a link – B&L baby’s room – founded in 1910 , they are the world ’s fine grower of award winning Tuberous Begonias and Delphinium , and they have been for about 120 twelvemonth . These Tuber can retail for up to $ 125 . each in the US , but can be ordered direct from B&L for a third of the price . One can not compare these plants with the cheap weak air of tuberous begonias one discover in peat - fulfil poly bags at garden centers in the spring . If you may afford one , try one of these next year . These tubers are all about pedigree and provenance , and with hardly anyone spawn new varieties today , B & L is one of the last places on earthly concern to find the choice , exhibition strain .
If you are a regular reader of grow WITH plant , you may remembermy poston Tuberous Begonias last January . Briefly , while visitingWhite Flower Farm , America ’s premier agiotage post - order glasshouse , I visit a greenhouse with a display of the Blackmore & Langdon Exhibition begonia which the nursery exclusively sells in North America . The showing was arresting , and being one who prefers coinage over gaudy hybrids , and all , I had to take that sometimes , copiousness and gooeyness has it ’s place , after all , pretty is , well , pretty . And we can all use a small pretty , some meter . specially in late August , when‘pretty ’ in the world of flowers , has to try a picayune harder .
An seedling or un identify variety , from B&L , available for even less than $ 15.00 . Still , just as beautiful , is n’t it ? Sometimes , paying $ 30 to $ 74 for an exhibition caliber variety is not necessary .
Another of the B&L un - named seedling light bulb . A beautiful pink shade .
It may seem as if White Flower Farm is over charging those of us in the US for B&L tuberous begonia tubers , but one must empathise their stemma , as well as the toll of importing these fine of the finest begonia tubers . If you have any question regarding their economic value , then I urge you to visit White Flower Farm during the summertime and see these plants for yourself . Or well yet , do what I did and order a few of these incredible variety for your ego to grow .
B&L Begonias are not cheap but they will outshine any Dutch grown genus Tuber if you buy those bag varieteis in the outflow from the big box storehouse , or from a economic value ring armor order source . You get what you give for when it comes to most plants . But if you are look for note value , I suggest regulate the B&L seedling Tuber , which sell for much less , around $ 15 . per tuber . But gild in January , for they trade out quickly . Even I , who often thinks little about dropping $ 75 . for a rare South African Bulb , shrill at the view of a Tuberous Begonia sell for $ 80 . Let alone $ 125 .. I agree that rank from the White Flower Farm catalogue might not as be as cost effective as ordering direct from England , but it is easy , and if you are only plan on ordinate a couple of tubers , the shipping price alone from the UK makes White Flower Farm a more stinting seed .
Un - named Picotee variety from the more cheap mixed choice from B&L in England .
Each class , I order direct , from Blackmore & Langdon in the UK , and each yr I am impressed with the results . It work out well for me , as I generally regulate about 25 tubers , so the shipping toll makes sense . Arguably , bear $ 35.00 US for a Tuberous Begonia is still a luxury for most people but as there are no longer any breeder selling US get bulbs , there are few choices .
My Tuberous Begonia labor had me growing nearly 50 varieties , which I ordered in January , and start under lights indoors in February . A few monitor about regulate from B&L.
1 . ordination early , most varieties sell out by December.2 . Try the unknamed seedling , many of these are evenly as sensational , and if you are not going to exhibit them , why not . Make up a name for your friends . I ’m thinking of some of the unknamed pinks as , ‘ Paris Hilton ’ , or a jaundiced as ‘ Legally Blonde’.3 . Do n’t give up on White Flower Farm , commercial-grade ? sure enough , but I would think that they tubers they carry are prob . the premium size , and if you may afford them , they are the only source in the US .
Overall , I have been happy with these given that this class was awfully rainy , and I had kept them plants on the pack of cards too long , and they started to rot the leafage a moment . June and early July was too hot to keep them in the greenhouse , but I have found that most of my Begonias wish to drop the summertime on the back porch , where they can dry out out a bit between waterings , and not get rained on . The nursery , even with shade cloth , does get too hot in July . By August , I move most plants back into the nursery , since cool evenings take off to arrive around the third calendar week . It was 45 deg . F here Monday Nox , but 90 degree F today .
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