Begonias - waste of time?

I got some plug plants this year too - Begonia Santa Cruz I think. They are performing very slowly, but they have been stood on the capillary matting in my greenhouse, so probably too wet. The ones I saved from last year are already decent sized plants. I'm easing up on the watering now to see if they get a wiggle on. Also ordered some commercial potting compost to see if it performance better than cheap-from-garden-centre-special-offer

 

I have always found the Begonia shades an easy plant to grow . I have some in baskets and troughs on the shadey sheltered sides of the house . I understand they don't like full sun . They are only just beginning to droop and flower now . I also got some B. Boliviensis Santa Cruz plugs this year , these are very slow growing - typically this type of begonia is my favourite , and I struggle to get tubers from them !
Trailing Fuchsias are a good option , I mix them sometimes with B. Shades , photo from early August 2013 below is white shades with Fuchsia Harry Gray

 

Almost like a bridal boquet Harry. Thanks for showing me the Harry Gray fuchsia - yours is more mature than mine and I can appreciate its potential. It has a delicate habit that I find visually very pleasing,
Jenny

 

Jenny , the photo above was taken on 4 August last year. If I remember the F. Harry Gray flowered quite late in this half shade location.
I have only growing Fuschias over the last 2 seasons for shade locations , as an option to Begonias. So my knowledge is very limited , but I do find some flower later than I would like. Also there is a bewildering variety of them , you really are spoilt for choice.

 

Yup

 

I have a few tuberous, supposedly scented types. They were very slow to start and I thought the tubers must have rotted but are moving a bit now. Last year's ones got ate by vine weevils so you could have a poke in the soil and see if you can spot anything.

 

they are slow, mine never come in to there own until middle of July and like Harry have tried several of the "crackling series" and the "kisses series" , but will flower into October so when everything else had given up the ghost in the basket ie lobelia Surfinia petunias etc the begonias will take over if fed with tomato food and refill the basket with new growth .

 

Coming on a treat

 

Ooooh JWK- luvvly stuff. I like both of them - have they enjoyed a lengthy Spring in the GH first?
Jenny

 

its like the hanging gardens on Babylon @JWK. Very impressive. I hope the Under Gardener [or is that you?!!] does all the watering?

 

I've never ever taken a photo in-that-way of my garden. Oh No!

Signed,

Pinocchio

Ah, I know the type. I have some that I grow my early Lettuces in. Good idea, and very handy

The ones I have are like this (dunno why their photo shows a gravel tray, its not needed! nor part of what I bought)