The 30 yr old begonia

Believe it or not this begonia corm was bought for a special occasion in 1977, and the exact same tuber is still going.
I've taken a few cuttings and a bit of cross pollenating over the years but that tuber is still going strong.


Just to show how its been going, this pic was taken in 1983 when I got a proper camera, I had already had it 6 yrs then.

 

Thats amazing Pete.....
You obviously have very green fingers as most of us would have killed it by now or it would have rotted,diseased,frosted,over watered or just plain killed with kindness.
Well done.

 

Beautiful, pete, truly lovely flowers this year. You have certainly beaten me there.

My "mother" Cane Begonia now living with my friend in Bucks, is 22 years old. For all I know, it's mother may still be around. I have offspring of mine here aged only six and Waco now has grandchild aged one.

 

well done pete its beautiful

 

good for you pete thats lovely

 

Nice one Pete,

:D

 

Smashing looking begonia Pete,and a nice background story too.

 

Thanks everone, I just wonder if there is a record for the oldest begonia tuber.
There were others bought at the same time but they all faded away over the years, a bit of rot on some and the dreaded vineweevil on others.
But up to now this one has kept going.

 

Have to change my dating to 24 years now that I've thought but that's still a cane and not a tuber ...

Think you'll hold the record, pete

 

I'm willing to bet that there are older ones out there somewhere, I even wonder how old it was before I got it, a couple of years at least.

In many ways its easier to keep the tubers from year to year rather than the cane types, which need potting on and on each year getting bigger.

 

Hi Pete that's awsome and a bute to boot!
I have a red single begonia that dose well each year but only had it 6 years.

 

Evening nef750 ... yours will grow up if you treat it nicely.

pete, I'm sure there are older ones out there ... let them show themselves ... :love