Begonia tubers - getting them started

The Bird Lady

I've received a pack of Begonia tubers and the leaflet that comes with them is suggesting putting them in a bag of moist compost in the airing cupboard to start them off.  I've grown Begonias for years but have never heard of this, has anyone else tried it?

Fran IOM

@The Bird Lady Just bumping up your thread for you, although you only posted yesterday, as it has now moved off the front page and may get missed. 

The Bird Lady

Cheers!  

Arthur1

I am always worried about giving heat to start things early because I have nowhere to move them to. Apart from my already densely packed windowsills. Airing cupboard to unheated glasshouse would be too big a step...

The Bird Lady

Well, I am amazed at how well this has worked!  As instructed, I put the tubers in a bag of compost and then into the airing cupboard.  I had a quick check today and 8 out of 10 tubers have decent shoots on already!  I've potted those up and put the others back in the airing cupboard for a while longer.  The potted ones are staying in the house until the weather warms up.  I'm so pleased because I purchased some tubers last year (online, different supplier) and not one of them sprouted.  

Jenny_Aster

That's good! Forgive my ignorance, but was your compost dry or damp?

The Bird Lady

Slightly damp. 

The Bird Lady

Sorry  Jenny_Aster, I should have explained further - I put the corms into a plastic bag with some moist compost and tied the top which helped stop the compost from drying out. Then I left it at the bottom of the airing cupboard.  I have grown Begonias for many years and this is the first time I've tried this method, I was very pleased with the result!