How to plant potted begonia seedlings

How to plant potted begonia seedlings

Begonias quickly bulk up into good-sized plants, from seedlings. Find out how to give them a helping hand, in our guide.

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
At its best
At its best

Plant is not at its best in January

Plant is not at its best in February

Plant is not at its best in March

Plant is not at its best in April

Plant is not at its best in May

Plant is at its best in June

Plant is at its best in July

Plant is at its best in August

Plant is not at its best in September

Plant is not at its best in October

Plant is not at its best in November

Plant is not at its best in December

To do
To do

Do not To do in January

Do not To do in February

Do To do in March

Do To do in April

Do To do in May

Do not To do in June

Do not To do in July

Do not To do in August

Do not To do in September

Do not To do in October

Do not To do in November

Do not To do in December

Injecting summer colour in your garden couldn’t be easier, with the introduction of modern varieties of begonia. Though frost tender, they’re surprisingly resilient, flourishing in hot and dry, dull, damp and draughty conditions.

Begonias prefer light shade or partial sun, but don’t like scorching midday sun, so keep this is in mind when choosing a planting location. Use a peat-free, multi-purpose compost to plant up your seedlings, being sure to keep it moist but not waterlogged.

Many begonias can be bought as potted seedlings, with several plants in one pot. These can be grown on a windowsill or in a cool greenhouse until ready to plant out. Find out how separate them and plant individually, in our step-by-step guide.

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You Will Need

  • Begonia seedlings
  • Pencil or dibber
  • Seed trays or modules
  • 7cm pots

Total time:

Step 1

Gently knock the seedlings out of the pot. If the compost is dry, water it first, to soften it.

Planting begonia seedlings - removing the seedlings from the pot
Planting begonia seedlings – removing the seedlings from the pot

Step 2

Carefully tease the seedlings apart, using a pencil, holding the plants by their leaves.

Planting begonia seedlings - teasing the seedlings apart
Planting begonia seedlings – teasing the seedlings apart

Step 3

Plant them individually into a cellular seed tray. Water well, allowing the water to drain.

Planting begonia seedlings - planting the seedlings into a seed tray
Planting begonia seedlings – planting the seedlings into a seed tray

Step 4

When roots are visible through the bottom of the tray, transplant plants into 7cm pots.

Planting begonia seedlings - planting the seedlings into 7cm pots
Planting begonia seedlings – planting the seedlings into 7cm pots
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