TUBEROUS BEGONIAS can add another dimension of floral colour to your garden over the hot summer months. The attached photo shows amazing plants in hanging baskets grown by my father John Burton in his Tauranga garden. He has the baskets hanging from various heights from wires attached to the branches of a maple tree. Over the hot sunny months, the begonias prefer light shade, hence under the deciduous tree makes the perfect environment to get the very best floral display from these plants.

If you have a shade sail or some sort of cover over your patio area, then this will also provide a good environment for the begonias. Hanging the baskets off wires brings two advantages — the floral display comes directly down to eye level,so that you are not having to look up to see the flowers,and secondly the plants are easier to water. Over the very hottest months, water them at least every second day and every month give them a feed with liquid fertiliser. This will help encourage continued flowering and keep the foliage lush and green.