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Alan Titchmarsh rose

MMflowerMMflower Posts: 79
edited June 2018 in Plants
Hi, I have been so disappointed with the Alan Titchmarsh rose bred by David Austin. It is so delicate, droopy and lasts no longer than a couple of days. And after rain, it withers and looks awful. I have fed it and cared for it thinking it was lacking care as it’s in a pot perhaps but while the plant is healthy and the blooms plentiful, the rose is such a letdown (sorry Alan!!).
Anybody else disappointed with any of the DA roses? Would love to know so that I can avoid them. I must note that I have many DA roses which are wonderful - Munstead Wood, Snow Goose, Lady of Shalott.
Sorry for the long rant!
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Posts

  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Harlow Carr - exactly the same problem, plus its being eaten alive by earwigs, which is not its fault admittedly. I know we have to give them three years to reach their best and that the blooms will be better-supported as the plant gets stronger, but it’s blooms are so pallid and wishy-washy I don’t like it enough to persevere . Gertrude Jekyll on the other hand, is a year younger than the Harlot and so much stronger in every way.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • GrajeanGrajean Posts: 447
    Golden Celebration is another that has very lax growth even after 3 years. Mine is in a pot against a sunny house wall, fed twice a year. I keep cutting back the weakest growth. Brother Cadfael is the opposite, strong upright growth and lots of flowers again in a pot against the same wall.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    MM - try removing all flower buds for now and give it a handful of bonemeal worked in around the roots as this helps with plant strength and flower production.   No nitrogen as this encourages soft tissue growth.   Then all you can do is wait and see if your AT toughens up and improves.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    How long have you had this rose for please?
    East Anglia, England
  • FlinsterFlinster Posts: 883
    I bought Claire Austin a couple of years ago and it’s the same! Flowers droop on their stalk and are held very loosely. The petals collapse after a couple of days and the fragrance is very mild! There are plenty of buds, the foliage is good, no disease, but really it just makes a mess!
  • MMflowerMMflower Posts: 79
    edited June 2018
    I’ve had this rose for 4 years now and each year, it’s the same. The plant is healthy, lots of new growth and plenty of buds but the flowers are disappointing.
    Flinster, I totally get what you’re saying as it’s the same thing with my plant. 
    The chap at my local garden centre said to me that some of DA’s roses are too heavy for their stem and hence the drooping. 
    Obelixx, thanks for the advice but I am unlikely to keep the rose - it’s in a beautiful large ceramic pot which I am tempted to put to a better use! ;-)
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    I would put a few stakes in the pot and tie the canes to those, at least until you make any further plans for it.. I use stakes for quite a few of my roses.. but they are best allowed to grow taller so the droopy effect is more attractive on the plant.  
    East Anglia, England
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    This seems to be a common failing with DA roses judging from all the posts. Mine are doing a little better in their fourth year but I suspect the breeding of very large flowerheads are at the expense of the stems which never seem strong enough.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    In recent years I have switched to buying simpler roses with open flowers that pollinators can access.  Still DA so I get the perfume and repeat flowering but nowhere near as heavy.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    This is a DA rose in its first year...


    ...this is the same rose in its 3rd year..


    ..they are greedy for water, and until those roots go right down deep, they will droop their blooms.   It takes about 3 seasons.  They're worth holding on to...
    East Anglia, England
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