Begonias – A must-have for your Summer Garden

If you want to add a burst of colour in a shady area of your garden, you can’t go wrong with bedding begonias. These dependable, versatile annuals will flower all summer long, and can be used to fill gaps in garden beds, provide masses of colour in larger areas and also work equally well in containers and baskets. Bedding begonias are available in a wide range of colours, from red and maroon to coral, pink and white, with attractive bright green and bronze foliage.

They fare best in areas which receive partial shade or morning sun and are easy to maintain thanks to their neat and compact growth habit.

Here are some tips to get your bedding begonias off to a great start:

• Plant seedlings in rich, well draining soil and space seedlings about 15-20cm apart.
• Bedding begonias are fairly drought tolerant and only need to be watered once a week during summer.
• Feed them once a month with a balanced liquid fertiliser like MultiFeed or Nitrosol.
• If you’re looking for a variety that will tolerate a bit more sun, try the “Cocktail” series of begonias. The “Lotto” variety produces very large flowers.