I must find my begonia tubers. I think they’re in the garage somewhere, among the pots of plants, bicycles, and blue boxes.
I’m afraid I haven’t paid them much attention since I wrapped them in newspaper and set them on the floor. My garage has been closed up tight since November and has stayed dark and cool — cool but never freezing. The temperature is fairly constant, about right for wintering over tender perennials in containers and storing summer flowering bulbs. I have calla lilies in a basket on a shelf, dahlia tubers in bags of barely moist peat moss, and assorted glads lying about, but the begonias seem to like being on the floor.
I do need to find them, however, because it will soon be time to wake them up.
One or two may have succumbed, but after potting them up and bringing them in from the cold, they sprout fairly quickly and they’re an easy plant for the first timer to grow. Plant tubers in 100 mm to 150 mm pots with a well-drained potting mix, then place them in a warm, bright corner. The tuber should be set with the concave side uppermost and barely covered. Keep the soil moist and they’ll soon spring to life.
I’m ready to spring to life, too — along with loads of other enthusiastic gardeners.
Last weekend I dropped by the Wilmot Horticultural Society Garden Explosion seminar on Saturday and the Elora and Salem Horticultural Society’s Garden Conference on Sunday. Garden gatherings at this time of year capture the enthusiasm that’s bubbling away and when days are lengthening, the wish for spring to arrive is palpable.
Featured speaker at Wilmot was Shauna Dobie, editor of Ontario Gardener magazine. She gave a refreshing talk entitled Everything Old is New Again, showing images of plants that may have gone out of fashion, but which are being rediscovered; especially the fragrant ones since many of the newer varieties of the same plants have lost their familiar scents. Shauna explained how this happens when sterile plants are created through tissue culture. These plants don’t produce seeds and therefore have no reason to attract pollinators.
The Elora Salem conference featured Gil Stelter, a retired university professor with a passion for daylilies. He provided an informative talk on hybridization, explaining how a gentle hobby became a passion. For daylily fans, his garden in Guelph (and his website at (www.gryphongardens.ca) is a must see. Following him was professional photographer, Sylvia Galbraith, with excellent tips on photographing flowers, and Perennial Plant association member Janet Anderson on new perennials. Vera Top wound things up with tips on seed starting.
If you missed these two conferences, more are coming up.
A Day in the Garden with the Guelph and Wellington County Master Gardeners is happening on Sunday, Feb. 28. It will be a busy day with three knowledgeable speakers:
Organic market gardener Jay Mowat, Backyard Organics — on growing your garden naturally;
Turf specialist Jeffrey Lowartz — on lawns for the next generation, where do we go from here?;
Garden Making magazine editor Beckie Fox — on responsible gardening, choosing the best perennials, shrubs and small trees for your garden.
Email mgguelph@hotmail.com or phone the Master Gardener Hotline 519- 824-4120, ext. 56714 for more information.
On Feb. 20, 9:30 a.m., the Kitchener Public Library is reviving the tradition of Seedy Saturday, last held in 2006 at Doon Heritage Crossroads. Besides the opportunity to swap seeds, there will be workshops on a number of topics including growing garlic and asparagus, propagating wild plants, and low water landscaping. Kitchener Horticultural Society and Kitchener master gardeners will also be on hand to answer your garden questions. For more details, contact Sheila Bauman at 519-743-0271, ext. 254 or email sheila.bauman@kpl.org
David Hobson gardens in Waterloo and is happy to answer garden questions, preferably by email. Write to him at garden@gto.net or each him by mail c/o Etcetera, The Record 160 King St. E., Kitchener, N2G 4E5.
