Begonias My Hobby

Begonias - My Hobby An Occasional Page by Dave Staines INTRODUCTION
Whispers raised by Dave and first flowered in 1994.	My home is in Walton, Peterborough. I have been growing Begonias since 1980 and joined the N.B.S. in 1981. My main interest until recently has been to grow pot plants for exhibition but I have now decided to concentrate on growing Cut Blooms. I have been fortunate to have raised a couple of new varieties to date, these being named "Citrus" and "Whispers". The most successful being "Whispers" which I am pleased to say is being exhibited widely as a pot plant and cut bloom. "Whispers" and "Citrus" came from the same pod and were first flowered in 1994. Parents were "Primrose" as the seed parent and "Can Can" as the pollen parent. I am involved with the Society in a number of ways, as the Librarian/Archivist, a member of the National Committee and have recently been appointed a Show Judge.
A	B	C	D	E
A. The greenhouses at my home. The large one is a Robinsons 10'x24' with the two smaller ones 8'x6'. Opposite the small greenhouse at the back of the big one is an 8x10 Chrysanth cage which is hidden from view by the large shrub on the left. B. Front view of big greenhouse and how NOT to grow for Cut Blooms. C. Right hand view of big greenhouse. Note the pot plants amongst the Cut Blooms which require constant removal to adjust bloom supports. Also; I find it very difficult to water the pots at the back of the staging so 2008 will see a change of layout in this greenhouse. D. Left hand view of big greenhouse. Note the Multifloras beside the door and the pot plants amongst the Cut Blooms along with the B.sutherlandii on the back bench as in photo B. E. Front garden seedling beds where most of the double tuberous seedlings are bedded out before selecting any I wish to trial in the greenhouse the next year.
OTHER PAGES BY DAVE STAINES BEGONIAS MY HOBBY PREPARATIONS SEED SOWING PLANTING PROPAGATING