Seed fund
The seed bank of AFABEGO
The AFABEGO seed bank offers seeds of many begonia species. Here are the answers to the main questions that members and people asking for seeds may have.
Frequently asked questions
Who can order seeds?
- Ordering seeds is reserved for AFABEGO members whose membership is up to date.
- An order form can be downloaded on the page Order seeds.
- A contribution of €3 to €10 is asked for each packet of seeds ordered.
How long do seeds last?
- Seeds kept in the refrigerator can last 4 or 5 years, or even longer, although their germination capacity decreases slightly each year.
- Seeds preserved in the freezer last longer than those kept in the refrigerator.
Who supplies the seed bank, and who are the donors?
- The Begonia Conservatory of Rochefort and the Botanical Garden of Lyon are the main donors, together with a few members.
- All members can give seeds.
- Some seeds also come from foreign societies (Australian ones in particular) with which AFABEGO members exchange seeds.
- Seeds are sometimes ordered from “suppliers”, for example Peixoto in Brazil, or from societies: the American Begonia Society in the USA.
Rules
- Seeds will only be accepted by AFABEGO if the identity is known.
- Hybrid seeds are not accepted (you cannot know in advance what you will get from sowing seeds of hybrid plants).
- Wait until the fruits are ripe before picking them (the capsules are then dry, most often brown: see the photo); they must be picked from the plant; if a fruit fell off before, its seeds are no longer viable.
How are seeds obtained?
- First, the stamens (male flowers) must be “ripe”, that is, release their pollen (rub them on a finger: pollen grains, most often yellow, are left on it).
- The female flowers must also be “receptive”, which cannot be seen!
- To avoid unwanted hybrids (especially in a greenhouse or a conservatory where many plants grow side by side), pollinate the plants by hand, by stamen / pistil contact (see the photo) or with a brush (pick up the pollen with the brush and put it on the stigmas of the female flower).
- It is good practice to “mark” (with a tie or a label) the female flowers that were used, and to write down the date.
- Repeat the operation several (three) times; on some plants, to avoid self-pollination, the male flowers, hence the stamens, open before or after the female flowers are receptive.
- Pollination has probably worked if the female flower loses its tepals a few days later.
- It helps to use flowers of different plants (better, of different strains) of the same species.
- You can also collect male flowers (when the stamens are releasing pollen) and keep them in the freezer; you can then wait until the following year to pollinate, which is useful for species whose female flowers open well before the male flowers.
How do I preserve seeds?
- Allow the fruit to dry completely in an open container (up to two weeks).
- When they are fully dry (the seeds fall out), sift them to remove all plant debris (capsule remains in particular); use a fine sieve.
- The seeds can then be put in packets (not plastic bags, but paper packets, like stamp envelopes).
- Label the packets carefully with the name of the species and the date of harvest (and possibly the name of the donor); prepare and label the packet before putting the seeds in, so as not to crush them.
- Put the packets in an airtight box and keep refrigerated.
- Some keep them in the freezer (−18 °C).
The list on the AFABEGO website
- The list of seeds offered by the seed bank on the AFABEGO website is updated as soon as some run out or, on the contrary, when seeds of new species are given.
- The date of the last update is always shown.
What next?
- For sowing, see the growing guide.
- Donors would like to have news about your sowing, success or failure. Thank you!
