I'm thinking of buying Windflower from DA. Have you any personal experience in growing this. Also, as DA are only selling bare rooted plants at the moment, and the delivery time is about two weeks, means it could possibly be the beginning of May before I get the chance to plant it out. Is this still acceptable for bare rooted plants? Many thanks.
Coincidentally, I've recently planted Windflower myself just a few weeks ago... so as yet I cannot report on it, not having grown it before, but I can tell you that it was reportedly one of the late Mr Austin's favourite roses.. at least at that time... I'm sure he had other favourites too..
Yes you can still plant bare roots you receive from DA because they are kept in cold storage, so they won't have acclimatised to the outside temps as yet...
p.s. the bare root I received of Windflower had perhaps the largest root system I've yet to receive on a rose... it was huge !
What's the technique for planting bare roots, mine have always been potted in the past, so it was just a case of digging a hole and popping it in. I suspect planting a bare root is a bit more complex.
Well, I think it's easier really.. the instructions from DA will be with your rose, and will be different to what I tell you, but they want to sell you things...so this is what I do... others do it differently, but I don't fuss..
...soak bare root in bucket of water for an hour. ...dig hole about a foot square and deep. ...plonk rose in hole, spread roots out a bit... bud union I would put about 1 inch below soil level... ground level is ok... I don't like it above.. ... puddle rose in hole with water from bucket, about half full... allow to drain.. back fill.. firm in.. oh I water in again at this point just to settle the soil around the roots.. ...no point in feeding until you see active growth starting... then give first feed of season.. ...hope it goes well for you.... roses like these don't like to be rushed...
What is the maximum number of roses you can put in a bed measuring approx 1.5 metre x 2 metre. I've got four in at the moment. The soil has been thoroughly enriched over the years, and the only competition is from a couple of phlox and a large fennel. Many thanks.
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Coincidentally, I've recently planted Windflower myself just a few weeks ago... so as yet I cannot report on it, not having grown it before, but I can tell you that it was reportedly one of the late Mr Austin's favourite roses.. at least at that time... I'm sure he had other favourites too..
Yes you can still plant bare roots you receive from DA because they are kept in cold storage, so they won't have acclimatised to the outside temps as yet...
p.s. the bare root I received of Windflower had perhaps the largest root system I've yet to receive on a rose... it was huge !
...soak bare root in bucket of water for an hour.
...dig hole about a foot square and deep.
...plonk rose in hole, spread roots out a bit... bud union I would put about 1 inch below soil level... ground level is ok... I don't like it above..
... puddle rose in hole with water from bucket, about half full... allow to drain.. back fill.. firm in.. oh I water in again at this point just to settle the soil around the roots..
...no point in feeding until you see active growth starting... then give first feed of season..
...hope it goes well for you.... roses like these don't like to be rushed...