Want begonias (or gladiolas, dahlias, sweet peas) this season? Do this now

Yes, there is still snow on the ground.

But tuberous begonias take 12 to 15 weeks to develop into decent flowering plants so now is the time to buy tubers so you can plant them sometime during the next couple of weeks. They are not hard to grow; they just take a long time.

Still, tuberous begonias do better here than anywhere I have ever been, which makes it worth the effort. Best of all, you can get some pretty good results without use of supplemental light.

You can either retrieve last year's tubers from storage or buy new ones. In the latter case you want to snag the biggest and the fattest —and, of course, the kind you want, i.e. hanging or upright. (And, just to be clear, we are talking about tuberous begonias here, not the fibrous types, which are started from seed.)

Plant your tubers by pushing them concave side up into perlite or good compost (after you dip them in endomycorrhizal fungi), without getting soil into the depression, from whence the new shoots will emerge. Don't get water in this "hole."

The compost should be predampened and no added more water is needed until you see shoots sprouts. If the soil does dry out, add water carefully. Use warm water so it is absorbed quickly.

Plant in either individual containers, flats or leave them in last year's containers. You will see shoots in a couple of weeks if your tubers haven't already grown some.

Next up, sweet peas. I have been touting the benefits of starting sweet peas early — as in late January or the start of February — and then pinching back plants so you have real bushes by the time they are taken outdoors. I mentioned this in a recent column. They will flower early.

I just read an interesting article in which the author claims there is no need to soak seeds (I have been suggesting 24 hours in warm water in a thermos bottle). And there is no need for the traditional nick to the peas' hard seed-coat so water can get in.

The author suggests putting seeds in damp compost, then a cool location, and left alone. Heat prevents germination and they will sprout just as well. Both of us suggest pinching once three or four leaves appear. Give this method a try and let me know what happens.

By the same token, I got an interesting email from a reader who skips my advice about starting gladiolas indoors. He waits until the soil can be worked and plants them directly outdoors and notes his gladiolas start blooming by mid-August. Again, I say give it a try. Why not? It seems like a much easier way to go.

Either way, now is the time to buy gladiola tubers to ensure you get what you want. Later this month is the time to start dahlia tubers (no need for supplemental lights), so pick them up as well at the nursery or from Rob Wells (at thepersistentfarmer.com), who sells top-notch, locally grown tubers at the Anchorage Farmers Market on Saturdays at 15th Avenue and Cordova.

Some dahlias, however, are started from seed. You can find them on seed racks and they are extremely easy to grow and always produce flowers. If you find one that meets your desires (these are usually shorter than tuber dahlias), now would be the time to start them. Plant in good compost, slightly cover the seeds and put the container in a plastic bag until germination. Once seeds are up, keep the plants at about 65 degrees.

Finally, I have been writing (and debating) about not using invasive plants and sticking to natives when it comes to perennials, trees and shrubs. The question arises as to how one would go about making the conversion from tennis court lawn to natural wilderness.

A good place to start is with a good read: Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West – the best resource on the subject.

Jeff’s Alaska gardening calendar

Flowers to start: gladiola corms, hollyhock, digitalis, rhodochitin, begonias, dahlias from seed

Veggies to start: celery, leeks

Dog sled in the Alaska Botanical Garden: First come, first served from noon to 3 p.m. Monday with musher Annie Grenier's teams leaving every 20 minutes at the garden. Adults are $5 and kids are free. (Rides may be shortened or cancelled depending on weather and condition of the dogs). Find more information at alaskabg.org and (907) 770-3692.