BEGONIAS?

i am thinking of planting BEGONIAS,next year for a change from PETUNIAS. they will be planted in pots and hanging baskets and fence planters.the questions i would like to ask are (1) do they only come in tubors ?. (2) when is the best time to plant?.(3) how hardy are they?.(4) when do they flower? (5) how long do they flower for?.
i noticed a local garden recently,and this garden was fantastic,and all he had in the garden where BEGONIAS. FANTASTIC COLOURS.
they where in hanging baskets ,wall baskets,half barrels,etc it was a fantastic array of colour. i said to myself i will try that next year!.
so if any of you established gardeners in the forum could help me in my quest,i would be very greatfull for your expertise and skills.
thank you.:thmb: music.

 

You're right to go for begonias for your planters Music.
They flower all summer long and seem to be impervious to wet weather and yes, the colours are fantastic.
You buy them as tubers, but you can lift and dry your tubers at the end of the season and replant them for next year.
They are not frost hardy, so you can start them indoors in spring and plant out when danger of frost is passed.
The first frost will kill the topgrowth but you can lift them then, dry and store for next year.
They are very showy - as you have seen - all summer long and are really no work at all.
I think you should go for it.
I grow them, as do all my neighbours, and the town baskets and tubs are full of them.
Good luck and hope you get a great display.
Start with a few and see how you get on.
Be sure to plant them the right way up as that can be tricky for a novice grower.