When to plant begonias
Plant begonias 1–3 weeks after the last spring frost. Wait until the soil is at least 60°F. That works out to zone 5b (mid May to late May), zone 7a (late April to early May) and zone 9a (early March to late March).
Begonias planting dates by zone
| Zone | Plant outdoors | begonias ready from |
|---|---|---|
| 4a | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 28 |
| 4b | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 26 |
| 5a | May 18 – Jun 1 | Jul 24 |
| 5b | May 12 – May 26 | Jul 18 |
| 6a | May 7 – May 21 | Jul 13 |
| 6b | May 1 – May 15 | Jul 7 |
| 7a | Apr 22 – May 6 | Jun 28 |
| 7b | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 19 |
| 8a | Apr 3 – Apr 17 | Jun 9 |
| 8b | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 29 |
| 9a | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 15 |
| 9b | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Apr 19 |
How to plant begonias
| Plant as | transplants or tubers |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | 60°F or warmer |
| Depth | Same depth as the pot (tubers 1 in) |
| Spacing | 8–12 in |
| Light | Part shade |
| Time to bloom | 60–90 days |
| Start indoors | 8–12 weeks before the last frost (zone 6a: Feb 5 – Mar 5; zone 8a: Jan 2 – Jan 30) |
Begonias need nights above 50°F.
Start tuberous begonias indoors, hollow side up.
Most prefer bright shade and moist, well-drained soil.
Wax begonias handle more sun than tuberous begonias, which scorch in hot afternoon light.
Water when the top inch of soil is dry; begonias rot quickly in soggy soil.
Before the first frost, dig tuberous begonias, let them dry, and store the tubers in peat or paper bags at about 45–50°F.
When to expect flowers from begonias
Remove spent flowers to keep tuberous begonias tidy; wax begonias flower nonstop.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.
More flowers to plant
Coleus · Marigolds · Zinnias · Sunflowers · Cosmos · Mums · Lantana · Hydrangeas