Having received my PB order, I checked my email confirmation and I actually ordered on 7th July, but then added to it in late September. Placing an early order then adding to it later is a good trick it seems, if you want to get to the front of the queue 😆
However, having taken them out of the bucket ready to plant out/pot up has gave me a better gander at the individual roses. Ordering early doesn’t necessarily get you the best specimens, it seems. Out of my five, only one floribunda is a sturdy-caned, well-branched 12” specimen with one more than the minimum three canes. The two shrub roses have been severely pruned to 5”. The HT is the tiniest bare root, two cane specimen I have ever received. The tea is twiggy, fine for a tea, except sold in commerce as Francis D is not strictly a tea but a hybrid. Hmm, arrived with mouldering blackspotted foliage, random pruning, most don’t have enough good canes to qualify as A grade imho. A bit underwhelmed.
I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone else’s roses next year too. Is it just me or are we being more adventurous and looking further afield for interesting roses?
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
These rose threads have really got me into the roses. I am still not ready for bare roots to arrive so ok for me if orders get delayed. My compost order had arrived and as usual was delivered at driveway. Today I managed to move it all bit by bit to back garden like an Ant!
I am so looking forward to next year and everyone's roses.
However, having taken them out of the bucket ready to plant out/pot up has gave me a better gander at the individual roses. Ordering early doesn’t necessarily get you the best specimens, it seems. Out of my five, only one floribunda is a sturdy-caned, well-branched 12” specimen with one more than the minimum three canes. The two shrub roses have been severely pruned to 5”. The HT is the tiniest bare root, two cane specimen I have ever received. The tea is twiggy, fine for a tea, except sold in commerce as Francis D is not strictly a tea but a hybrid. Hmm, arrived with mouldering blackspotted foliage, random pruning, most don’t have enough good canes to qualify as A grade imho. A bit underwhelmed.
I've been unimpressed with most of my PB orders so far. I only use them for roses that can't be bought anywhere else.
I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone else’s roses next year too. Is it just me or are we being more adventurous and looking further afield for interesting roses?
I've been unimpressed with most of my PB orders so far. I only use them for roses that can't be bought anywhere else.
I’m pretty shocked actually. I too only ordered from them to get Ivor’s Rose as it’s not available elsewhere and even though it’s a PB-bred, exclusive rose, it’s a pretty poor specimen. The £20 postage here is ridiculously expensive for a single bare root, so I ended up ordering more to justify it to myself. Won’t be ordering from them again.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
My roses from them were always borderline OK. Not great but not bad enough to complain. Bare root roses smallish or with thin canes (or two canes only), potted roses cut back too much.
I've not ordered from them, but don't think I will be doing so after seeing the feedback here. My shed has finally been built so I can now start digging in the new flowerbed for the roses which should be delivered soon - they really need to be because i keep adding to my order!
My logistics just got easier. Unfortunately Groenloof have been let down and cannot supply The Prince. So the order is cancelled which means no Johann Wolfgang von Goethe either. Shame but opens up more possibilities....
@Tack ...I'm not sure if you're aware of this but Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is the same rose as 'Pure Poetry'... has this not been mentioned before to you here? I thought it had... so if you still want it, you should be able to find it under this name.. I've seen it sold locally here at garden centres..
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However, having taken them out of the bucket ready to plant out/pot up has gave me a better gander at the individual roses. Ordering early doesn’t necessarily get you the best specimens, it seems. Out of my five, only one floribunda is a sturdy-caned, well-branched 12” specimen with one more than the minimum three canes. The two shrub roses have been severely pruned to 5”. The HT is the tiniest bare root, two cane specimen I have ever received. The tea is twiggy, fine for a tea, except sold in commerce as Francis D is not strictly a tea but a hybrid. Hmm, arrived with mouldering blackspotted foliage, random pruning, most don’t have enough good canes to qualify as A grade imho. A bit underwhelmed.
I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone else’s roses next year too. Is it just me or are we being more adventurous and looking further afield for interesting roses?
I am so looking forward to next year and everyone's roses.
I think we are
...I'm not sure if you're aware of this but Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is the same rose as 'Pure Poetry'... has this not been mentioned before to you here? I thought it had... so if you still want it, you should be able to find it under this name.. I've seen it sold locally here at garden centres..