With David Austin and the like, you are obviously paying for years of development of the different varieties. I remember seeing a programme where they showed a little of the process involved, hundreds of cuttings were taken and only one or two might have gone on to be developed. Even then there was no guarantee they would end up on the market. B&Q and the like supply "basic" roses for want of a better term. If they look healthy with a good root system, l would at least try a couple. Give them a good start when it comes to planting, give them a feed in the Spring and see how you get on. It may well be the start of a passion for roses for years to come, who knows ?
It's a fiver...gotta be worth a punt. You might even end with something nice. Success is also down to how, where and in what you grow it (kind of obvious I suppose) I've rescued many half dead 50p plants from Asda, BnQ, Morrisons etc..
Of course it's worth thinking about the long term existence of professional rose operations like Austin, we want new varieties and all the work that goes into making them but also want bargain basement plants. The two approaches are incompatible. Frankly I'd rather save for the not exactly extortionate amount of £13 and buy from a place that cares about standards and offers professional service. B&Q is good for buying chipboard
You have to be careful with some of the potted roses. Sometimes they're just bare root roses bunged in a pot of compost to up the price. Have a good look, particularly underneath to see how long they've actually been in the pot
With lockdown looming I panic bought two climbing white bare root roses last March from B&Q. The pair for a fiver. In the year they have grown multiple stems of 5 foot, pliable enough to twist around posts. But they have yet to flower. So still not sure if it was a good buy or not yet.🤔
Definitely a bad buy I suppose the money saved will be against the three years or four it will take to reach the level of maturity a £12 bare root would get you.
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B&Q and the like supply "basic" roses for want of a better term. If they look healthy with a good root system, l would at least try a couple. Give them a good start when it comes to planting, give them a feed in the Spring and see how you get on. It may well be the start of a passion for roses for years to come, who knows ?
Success is also down to how, where and in what you grow it (kind of obvious I suppose)
I've rescued many half dead 50p plants from Asda, BnQ, Morrisons etc..