Begonia tubers may be started into growth from February onwards. The easiest way is to put them into shallow boxes containing a mixture of loam, leaf mould and sand. Meanwhile, prepare the potting soil. Good top soil mixed with one-sixth part of manure should form the basis. To this prepared soil add leaf mould and it is often recommended that you add bonemeal to the compost. As soon as the shoots appear, you can pot them up in 15cm pots and place them in larger pots.