National Begonis Society Editor's diary

The editor's Diary 2006 Brian Simmons
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August 17th. It is now 6 weeks since our Show and my plants, having received a battering in the van on return journey, are looking decidedly sorry. As described in previous reports my main greenhouse is a converted shed, now that our Show is over the begonias have to be closely packed to make way for produce from our allotment. Some mildew appeared whilst we were away and is now being treated with a fungicide spray.
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1. The plants are closely packed but moved around at intervals. The repositioning coincides with watering and removing dead leaves and any new buds. All stakes have been removed. 2. Even though the existing stem and leaves are showing signs of dying back the natural vigour in the tuber has produced new growth on several plants. This begonia was single stem with no side shoots at the time of our Show. 3. This is a cutting rooted in a jar of water, a useful standby for just one cutting. It will now be potted up into a soilless compost. 4. In the garden half -baskets of Apricot Shades continue to give a fine display.
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August 13th. Another Show over and my plants are back in the greenhouse, and looking in a pretty sorry state. To get them home they (30 pot plants, 2 hanging pots and 4 troughs) are all closely packed into a van together with polythene, bloom boards, signs etc. I had reasonable results - 1 first, 6 seconds and 1 third, in fact a prize in all the classes entered. I had to withdraw from the 6 cut-bloom Class.
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1. My best exhibit at the Show, Geoff Bizley gained first prize in the 1 Pot Open Class. This variety, raised by South Coast Representative Dave Coates, is currently my best yellow variety. 2. Prior to the Show the growing tips were removed from all plants, so now that they are back in the greenhouse I have removed all blooms. 3. Amongst all the battered plants returned from the Show here is one that did not go.. A very nice Apricot Delight in a 10"25cm pot, it came out too late but is now at its best. 4. In the garden half -baskets of Apricot Shades are still flourishing.
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4th. August. Last weekend saw a change in the weather, cooler changeable conditions replaced the heatwave and this has continued through the week. Unfortunately it has come too late to save the promised record entries for our Show.
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1. Leading up to the Show I have been busy making the necessary signs and notices that go towards trying to project a professional presentation. 2. These are my greenhouses. No grand and elaborate set-up here, just an old north facing shed at the bottom of the garden converted into a lean-to greenhouse. The 8' x 8' Eden in front is just for cuttings and general horticulture, in front are three of the troughs which will partly make up the front of our display.. PREPARATIONS FOR THE SHOW 3. Friday Morning 0900, in the hall Bob Burchell, Bill & Wyn Squibb are assembling the stand. 4. Meanwhile having delivered the components for the stand, I have driven the hire van to Dave Coates house to collect the first load of plants. 5. With two loads of plants collected from my own greenhouse all that remain are the begonias for the Classes. These are some of them. 6. 1130 and the stand is complete. left to right: Bob Burchell, Bill Squibb, myself, Wyn Squibb, Pauline Coates. 7. We can only work on the stage in the morning as a bridge club use the hall every Friday afternoon. So at 1230 we retreat for lunch and a rest. Preparations recommence at 1630. 8. 2000 hrs. nearly complete. Just the cut-blooms have to be staged in the morning.
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