Begonias Planting Guide

June

How to handle begonias in June

This page is about begonias in general. For your zone's exact planting and harvest dates, pick your county below.

Sun partial shade

Water moderate

Days to harvest 70–90

Spacing 8.4″

How to water begonias
Consistent moisture matters more than volume for begonias. Little and often beats occasional drenching.
Where to put begonias
South-facing beds are ideal for begonias. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant begonias. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

See when to plant begonias where you live →

Wax begonias (Begonia × semperflorens) are the workhorse shade bedding plant of American horticulture, offering continuous bloom from transplant to hard frost. Bronze or green-leaved varieties perform well from deep shade to full sun (in northern zones) and tolerate summer humidity better than most cool- season flowers. A staple of mass plantings, containers, and window boxes.

Begonia × semperflorens · Flower · Begoniaceae family · 70–90 days to maturity

Annual Blooms in Multi-season Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant

Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Begonias is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.

Get Your Personalized Begonias Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Begonias?

Zone Compatibility for Begonias Zones 2a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Bloom
Zone 2a	Mar 7	—	Jun 13	Aug 22 – Sep 26
Zone 2b	Feb 27	—	Jun 5	Aug 14 – Sep 25
Zone 3a	Feb 20	—	May 29	Aug 7 – Sep 25
Zone 3b	Feb 22	—	May 24	Aug 2 – Sep 27
Zone 4a	Feb 18	—	May 20	Jul 29 – Sep 30
Zone 4b	Feb 13	—	May 8	Jul 17 – Sep 25
Zone 5a	Feb 14	—	May 2	Jul 11 – Oct 3
Zone 5b	Feb 7	—	Apr 25	Jul 4 – Sep 26
Zone 6a	Jan 30	—	Apr 17	Jun 26 – Sep 25
Zone 6b	Jan 23	—	Apr 10	Jun 19 – Sep 25
Zone 7a	Jan 14	—	Mar 25	Jun 3 – Sep 23
Zone 7b	Jan 7	—	Mar 18	May 27 – Sep 30
Zone 8a	Dec 28	—	Mar 1	May 10 – Sep 27
Zone 8b	Dec 17	—	Feb 11	Apr 22 – Sep 23
Zone 9a	Dec 2	—	Jan 20	Mar 31 – Sep 29
Zone 9b	Nov 16	—	Dec 28	Mar 8 – Sep 20
Zone 10a	Oct 23	—	Nov 20	Jan 29 – Aug 27
Zone 10b	Oct 23	—	Nov 13	Jan 22 – Sep 17
Zone 11a	Oct 23	—	Nov 6	Jan 15 – Oct 8
Zone 11b	Oct 23	—	Oct 30	Jan 8 – Oct 29

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Direct Sow shows "—" because Begonias benefits from being started indoors first, then transplanted after the last frost.

How to Plant Begonias

Between Plants

10"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

5.5 – 6.5

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 2a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

70–90 days

Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.

👪 Plant Family

Begoniaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Begoniaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Begonias

Begonias matures in just 70–90 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 8 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Begonias

✅ Good Companions

Impatiens Lobelia Sweet Alyssum Ferns

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Begonias

Start seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before last frost — seed is dust-fine; surface-sow on moist mix under lights, do not cover. Bottom heat (70–75°F) speeds germination. Transplant after frost; begonias are not direct-sown in practice. Pinch seedlings once for branching. Keep soil evenly moist; avoid waterlogged conditions. Bronze-leaf types tolerate more sun; green- leaf types prefer shade to part-sun.

Saving Begonias Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Begonias by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Begonias?

Begonias (Begonia × semperflorens) takes 70 to 90 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Begonias grow in?

Begonias can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Begonias need?

Growing Begonias requires Partial Shade (3-6 hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5.