From Dust-Fine Seeds to Months of Summer Colour

A friendly guide to sowing, growing and enjoying bedding begonias in Hungary.

Come Into the Garden With Me…

Today, we're growing begonias. And this time, we are beginning with seeds so small that opening the packet may be your first real gardening challenge.

Begonia seed can look almost like dust. You may stare into the packet and wonder whether anything is actually in there. There is. And those almost invisible seeds can become neat little plants covered in pink or red flowers for months.

For this book, we're talking about the compact bedding begonias often called wax begonias or Semperflorens begonias. They are different from the large-flowered tuberous begonias you may know from hanging baskets. Ours are fibrous-rooted plants, usually grown as annuals in Hungary, and they are wonderfully useful for beds, edging, pots, balconies and courtyards.

They also solve a problem many gardeners have: what can we grow where there is good light but not blazing sun all day? Begonias are among the relatively few summer bedding plants that can flower very happily in partial shade.

At Holland Kertészet, we currently grow this story around two seed selections: Roze Komeet F1, with pink flowers, and Rode Komeet F1, with red flowers. Both come as packets of 700 seeds - which sounds like an enormous number until you see how tiny the seeds really are.

We'll go from those tiny seeds through germination, pricking out, planting, watering, feeding, summer heat, shade, common problems and finally the first autumn frost.

1. Meet the Bedding Begonia

Begonia is a huge plant genus, and this is why the word 'begonia' can be confusing. Some begonias grow from tubers. Others have spectacular leaves and live as houseplants. Some trail from baskets. Others stand upright in shady borders.

The plants in this book belong to the Semperflorens-Cultorum group, often called wax begonias or bedding begonias. They are compact, fibrous-rooted plants with fleshy stems, rounded leaves and masses of small flowers in shades such as white, pink and red.

Why are they called wax begonias?

Look closely at the leaves. They are smooth, slightly glossy and almost polished. That waxy-looking foliage is one reason the common name makes sense - and it also gives the plants a neat appearance even before the flowers take over.

Sun or shade?

Here is where begonias become interesting. Many summer flowers demand full sun. Bedding begonias are much more flexible. They can flower in partial shade and, depending on the variety and conditions, can also take brighter positions. In Hungary, a little afternoon shade can be a real advantage during fierce July heat.

Think of an east-facing balcony in Budapest, a courtyard that receives morning sun, or the front of a border where taller plants soften the strongest afternoon light. These are exactly the kinds of places where begonias can shine.

What does F1 mean?

You'll see F1 after both Komeet varieties. It means the seed is from a controlled first-generation hybrid cross, bred to give uniform, reliable plants. For us, the useful part is simple: plants tend to grow and flower consistently.

2. The Begonias We Grow With You

Before we sow, let's meet the two begonias currently in the Holland Kertészet seed range.

Begonia 'Roze Komeet F1' - 700 seeds

Roze means pink, and this is our softer choice. Pink bedding begonias create a gentle, cheerful carpet of colour without becoming overpowering. They work beautifully with white flowers, silvery foliage and fresh green leaves.

I particularly like pink begonias in pots near a doorway or on a shaded terrace, where you can see the glossy leaves and little flowers up close. They also make excellent edging plants because their naturally compact growth creates a tidy line without constant trimming.

Begonia 'Rode Komeet F1' - 700 seeds

Rode means red, and this is the bolder member of the pair. Red begonias bring a strong, traditional summer-bedding colour that reads clearly from a distance.

Use them where you want a proper block of colour: around a patio, along a path, in a large container, or in the front of a border. Red also looks surprisingly good against bronze or dark foliage elsewhere in the garden.

Which one would I choose?

If you want soft and romantic, choose pink. If you want strong and cheerful, choose red. Or grow both and let one colour repeat the other across the garden.

One of the nicest things about these begonias is that they don't need to be the star of every planting. They can quietly hold a border together while taller flowers come and go above them.

3. Sowing Something Almost Invisible

Now for the delicate part.

Begonia seed is extremely small. This is not a seed you push into a hole with your finger. In fact, if you bury it, you may make germination much harder because these seeds need light.

When should we sow?

For bedding begonias, an early start is useful. Sow indoors in February or March if you can provide warmth and very good light. The young plants grow slowly at first, so starting early gives them time to become sturdy before outdoor planting weather arrives.

How to sow

Fill a clean tray or small pots with fine seed compost and moisten it before sowing. The surface should be level and damp, not soaked.

Scatter the seed over the surface as evenly as you can. Do not cover it with ordinary compost. Press very gently so the seed has contact with the surface, then cover the tray with a clear lid or transparent cover to help keep humidity steady.

Warmth matters. A temperature around 21-25°C is useful for germination. A bright indoor position or propagator can make this much easier.

Water from below

Because the seed is so tiny, an enthusiastic watering can can redistribute your entire future begonia bed in about three seconds. Bottom watering or an extremely fine mist is safer.

And then we wait. Keep the surface moist but not saturated, give the tray light, and resist the urge to poke around looking for progress.

4. From Tiny Seedlings to Proper Plants

Eventually, the green specks begin to look like seedlings. Then they produce true leaves. This is when things become easier - and also when the tray may suddenly look much more crowded than you intended.

Pricking out

Once seedlings have their first true leaf and are large enough to handle, carefully move them into fresh compost with more space. A label, pencil or small dibber can help lift the roots without crushing the stems.

Begonia seedlings are delicate, so don't rush. Hold by a leaf rather than pinching the stem. If you lose a few seedlings along the way, you are still a gardener. With 700 seeds in the packet, we have room for learning.

Light, light, light

Warmth helped germination, but once seedlings are growing, good light becomes essential. Weak light produces stretched, floppy plants. Turn trays regularly if they're growing toward a window.

When can they go outside?

Not until frost danger has passed. Bedding begonias are tender. In Hungary, a warm April afternoon can be very convincing, but cold nights can still arrive. I would rather keep the plants protected a little longer than lose months of careful seed raising in one frosty night.

Harden the plants off gradually over a week or two. Begin with sheltered daytime trips outdoors, then extend the time as conditions allow.

Planting distance

For a full bedding effect, compact begonias are often planted fairly close together, but still need airflow. Around 15-25 cm between plants is a practical home-garden range, depending on how large your particular plants become and how quickly you want the display to fill in.

5. Finding the Right Place in a Hungarian Summer

By late spring our tiny seedlings are finally becoming garden plants. Now the question is where they should live.

Partial shade can be a gift

Begonias are famous for coping with less sun than many bedding plants. In Hungary, that is especially useful because full afternoon sun can be brutal in July and August.

Morning sun with afternoon shade is often excellent. Bright filtered light under an open tree canopy can work too. A north- or east-facing balcony may be far more suitable for begonias than for sun-hungry flowers such as zinnias.

If you grow them in a sunnier place, pay closer attention to water and leaf scorch. Dark paving, walls and balcony railings can reflect surprising amounts of heat.

Soil and containers

Begonias like fertile soil that stays reasonably moist but still drains well. This is not a drought-loving plant, and it is not a bog plant either.

In containers, use a good quality potting mix and make sure drainage holes are open. A pot without drainage becomes dangerous during thunderstorms; a tiny pot becomes difficult during heatwaves because it dries too quickly.

Watering

Water regularly in dry weather, aiming at the soil rather than constantly wetting the foliage. Let the surface begin to dry slightly between waterings, but don't allow the root ball to remain bone dry for long.

On a shaded terrace you may water far less often than on a bright balcony. Touch the compost. Lift the pot. Learn its weight when wet and when dry. Soon the plant starts telling you what it needs.

6. Keeping Begonias Flowering

Once established, bedding begonias are wonderfully willing performers. The flowers keep appearing through summer and often continue until autumn frost.

Feeding

Plants in garden soil may need little more than sensible soil preparation. Container plants are different because nutrients wash out with repeated watering. During active summer flowering, a flowering-plant fertiliser with a good potassium content can help, used according to the label.

Don't turn feeding into a competition. Overfed plants can become soft and overly leafy. We want balanced growth and steady flowers.

Do I need to deadhead?

One of the pleasures of bedding begonias is that they generally remain neat with relatively little intervention. Remove damaged or obviously decaying flowers and leaves when you see them, but you don't have to spend every evening with tiny scissors.

Rain and storms

Begonia stems and leaves are fleshy, so severe summer storms can bruise or snap them. After heavy weather, check the plants, remove badly broken pieces and make sure pots haven't become waterlogged.

A balcony trick

If your balcony has different light zones, move a container a metre or two and observe the difference over a week. Begonias make excellent teachers because they respond visibly to light and moisture. The happiest position may not be where you first expected.

And don't forget to look at the foliage. Green or bronze leaves can be just as important to the display as the flowers, especially when you repeat the same plant along an edge.

7. When Something Goes Wrong

Begonias are easy once established, but their fleshy growth makes them very good at showing us when conditions are wrong.

Seedlings collapse

Young seedlings can suffer from damping off, especially in stale, overly wet conditions. Use clean trays and compost, avoid waterlogging, give gentle airflow and don't crowd seedlings indefinitely.

Brown or scorched leaves

First ask where the plant is growing. Strong midday or afternoon sun, especially combined with heat reflected from paving or walls, can scorch foliage. Move container plants to gentler light or provide some afternoon shade.

Flowers dropping

Very dry compost can cause stress and flower drop. Check container moisture carefully during hot weather. A small pot can go from comfortable to desperately dry much faster than a garden bed.

Grey mould or rotting stems

Persistent dampness, poor airflow and decaying plant material can encourage fungal problems such as botrytis. Remove affected material, improve air movement and avoid leaving plants constantly wet.

Aphids, mites and other visitors

Check new growth and leaf undersides during your regular garden walk. Small pest populations are far easier to manage than large ones. If treatment becomes necessary, use a product currently authorised for the intended use in Hungary and follow the label.

The whole plant looks tired

Check the basics before reaching for fertiliser: moisture, drainage, heat, light and roots. Many plant problems begin with the place rather than the plant.

8. Autumn, Winter and Your Begonia Cheat Sheet

By September, a well-grown begonia may still be flowering happily. Don't rush to remove it just because the calendar says autumn. Keep watering when needed, tidy damaged leaves, and enjoy the display while mild weather lasts.

Then the frost arrives

Bedding begonias are tender. Once Hungarian nights turn frosty, outdoor plants are usually finished. For most of us, the simplest approach is to compost healthy plants and begin again from seed next year.

Could you overwinter a favourite plant somewhere bright and frost-free? Yes, in principle. But for this seed-grown bedding style, starting fresh is often easier and gives you neat young plants for the next season.

Your Begonia Cheat Sheet

• Sow indoors in February or March and keep the tiny seed on the surface.

• Use warm germination conditions around 21-25°C and keep the surface gently moist.

• Prick seedlings out once true leaves appear and give them excellent light.

• Harden plants off gradually and wait until frost danger has passed before planting out.

• Choose partial shade or gentle sun, especially in hot Hungarian locations.

• Keep soil moist but well drained; containers need extra attention in heatwaves.

• Feed flowering container plants sensibly through summer.

• Watch for damping off, grey mould, scorching and pests.

• Enjoy the flowers until frost, then begin again next year.

If You Remember Only Five Things…

1. Sow the dust-fine seed on the surface.  2. Warmth starts it; light builds it.

3. Partial shade is excellent.  4. Keep soil moist but never waterlogged.

5. Hungarian frost ends the outdoor season - and that is perfectly okay.

From dust-fine seed to months of flowers: quite a transformation. And when you're ready to grow something new…

Come into the garden with me.