Viking XL Red on Chocolate, Begonia Seeds

Viking XL Red on Chocolate Begonia Seed

Scarlet flowers blaze above oversized chocolate-colored begonia foliage
Nonstop bloom carries from late spring through fall
Heat-loving plants perform in sun or partial shade
Award-winning impact for containers and mass landscape plantings

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Begonia hybrida

Days to maturity

110 Days

Sun

Partial

Packet

10 Seeds

Zones 10–11 Check your growing zone

About Viking XL Red on Chocolate, Begonia Seed, Begonia Seed

The Viking XL Red on Chocolate Begonia lives up to its name by producing beautiful dark chocolate colored foliage with big red blooms! This major eye-catcher will turn heads as they will flower nonstop from late spring to late fall. This heat-loving plant thrives in containers or in the landscape. Viking XL Red on Chocolate will also do well in shady to semi-shady areas in the garden.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

Top of Soil

Days to Germination

14–28 days

Germination Type

D - Surface Sow

In-row plant spacing

8-12"

Plant profile

Life Cycle

Tender Perennial

Hardiness Zone

Zones 10-11

Plant Height

18 inches

Growth Habits

Compact, Mounding

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

42,313

Color

Brown, Red

Seed Type

Open Pollinated

Before Planting

For begonias, sanitize trays and fill them with a fine, sterile seed-starting mix. Arrange bright filtered light, bottom warmth, and a clear humidity cover before sowing the extremely small, light-requiring seed.

Planting

Start begonia indoors 12–16 weeks before the last spring frost. Surface-sow the extremely fine, light-requiring seed on a sterile medium, maintain 70–75°F, and keep humidity high without saturating the mix. Provide bright light immediately after emergence. Thin or transplant tiny seedlings once they can be handled, then harden gradually before moving outdoors after frost.

Watering

Bottom-water or mist gently so seed and young roots are not displaced. Keep humidity high only until germination, then ventilate gradually; mature plants like even moisture but suffer in saturated mix.

Fertilizer

Begin quarter-strength soluble fertilizer after seedlings have several true leaves. Increase gradually during active growth, using a balanced feed; rinse salts from containers and stop feeding dormant tuberous types.

Harvesting

Begonias are usually enjoyed on the plant rather than harvested. For floating or short-stem displays, take freshly opened, unblemished flowers during cool conditions. Remove faded blooms at the base. Collect seed only from completely dry capsules, handling carefully because the seed is dustlike.

Tips

Pelleted seed is easier to space. Delay transplanting until seedlings are large enough to handle by their leaves, acclimate them slowly to lower humidity, and protect all begonias from frost and harsh midday sun.

Pests & Diseases

Begonias are prone to Botrytis blight, powdery mildew, bacterial leaf spot, and Pythium or Rhizoctonia root rot. Gray mold, white coating, water-soaked spots, or blackened roots often follow crowding and excess moisture. Start with clean media, keep leaves dry, improve airflow, sanitize tools, isolate affected plants, and discard severely rotted specimens.

Thrips scar begonia flowers, spider mites stipple leaves, vine-weevil larvae damage container roots, and slugs chew outdoor plants. Inspect flowers and leaf undersides, quarantine new plants, and check roots when an otherwise moist plant wilts. Handpick slugs and adult weevils after dark.