Tuberous Begonia From Seed?

Has anyone grown tuberous begonias from pelleted seed? Are they difficult to grow? I would like to try them and any tips would be appreciated. Thanks

(Unless someone knows a really inexpensive source for begonia tubers. I would like to grow several dozen.)

Try Burts Begonia World.com (don't know how to do a hyperlink,sorry) Pretty cool site.

Thanks, bd. I will check it out.

I couldn't find a Burt's Begonia World on Google. I did find a Brad's Begonia World but it didn't sell begonias. It was a site with information about the American Begonia Society. Is this the site you meant?

Edited to say: Never mind! I kept looking and found the information on seed germination on that site (Brad's). Thanks so much for your help. It does look like a very informative site.

This message was edited Dec 3, 2003 9:19 PM

Can't spell either,there are links to begonia nurseries

You can go from here:)
http://members.aol.com/Btbegonia/index.html

Thanks, goldenfish. I have spent the last hour at this site - it sure has good information.

I've grown them from seed... with not a lot of success. I did manage to get a couple to blooming size but they didn't have a tuber to keep over the winter. The seeds are teeny weenie. Start them as early as you can... like January!

Thanks, Poppysue. I know that if you had difficulty, it must be a challenge!

Did you use the pelleted seed? I was hoping that would make it a little easier. I know the unpelleted seed is like dust.

I have a heat mat for the first time and I am hoping that will make it easier. I have to go back and read Brad's Begonia World more thoroughly but it sounds like they can be propagated by leaf and stem cuttings as well. If that is true I would like to give that a try as well.

I do enjoy growing plants from seed and I am a sucker for a challenge. I am still trying to grow the Himalayan blue poppy here even though it is supposed to be impossible in this climate. In the 'Weird Dude's Plant Zoo' catalog Weird Dude mentioned he had several Meconopsis that grew just fine and survived weeks of temperatures over 100 in Virginia. I figure if he can do it, eventually I can too! I had one in Seattle and it was so beautiful that I just can't give up hope......LOL

My seeds were pelleted.... "Pin up Flame" were the ones I tried. They start out so tiny... it's easy to over water them or let them dry up when your not looking. The seeds germinated easy enough. You just have to be extra careful with them while they're small.

Are they any worse than petunia or lobelia seed? I think those are the smallest seeds I have grown and somehow I managed to succeed with them.