My begonias have produced bulbs under the soil. If I plant these in the spring will they flower in the summer?

Question

The begonia varieties are Destiny, Apricot Sparkle and Stars. The ‘bulbs’ will be kept in a frost free environment over the winter.

Answer 1

This is great news. The Destiny series are tuberous begonias. (Wax begonias do not make tubers.) You can overwinter them as houseplants but the most common approach is to unearth the tuber, allow the plant to dry for 5-7 days, shake off as much soil as possible, and cut off the stems flush with the tuber. I confess that I cut off the foliage before drying the tuber and this works for me. When the stem cuts look dry, dust them with garden sulphur and store the tubers in dry peat moss or wrap them in newspaper and hang in a cool, dry place. The mesh bags from onions and oranges are good for hanging bulbs and tubers. 40 F is the ideal temp to aim for but most of us are closer to 55-60. Avoid freezing temps. It takes them awhile to get going in spring so you might want to pot them up inside, water and place them where it is warm and sunny. They should not be put into the garden until all danger of frost is past and night-time temps are above 50. They sulk in cold soil and are at risk of rotting. Please read the following article. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/begonia/wintering-begonias-overwintering-a-begonia-in-cold-climates.htm