How to Choose "Bare Root" Roses
Most rose bushes for sale this time of year are barely "bare root" anymore. But they are bare on top. What to look for when shopping.
Before we stick our hands into bare root roses (carefully), here’s what’s been going on lately in the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast:
Episode 305 All About Blueberries
Garden experts agree: if you are an inexperienced gardener or a first time gardener, you’re best, confidence-building step is to plant easy to grow vegetables, flowers, and fruit. For those taking their first steps into growing fruit, especially for those with a limited space, perhaps just a patio area, it’s hard to beat container grown blueberries. Give them some basic needs, and you’ll have fresh, nutritious blueberries for years and years. How do you start? What are the best varieties to grow? What are their needs for water, fertilizers, and soil?
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Episode 304 Seed Starting Tips
We have an email question from Maryann who writes in and says, “On the back of the seed packet, there was a column that says ‘Start indoors’. Then underneath it, it says ‘direct sow’. This means to plant it directly outside, correct? We don't start indoors, then transplant?” Here's Debbie Flower with two words of advice.
We have more than two words on seed starting when you listen to the episode. Or read the transcript (available at gardenbasics.net)
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Episode 303 All-America Plant Selection Winners for 2024
Quite often, when a new or curious gardener wants to know, “What should I plant in my garden?” One of my common responses is: “it’s hard to go wrong with All America Selections Winners.”
All America Selections has been independently trialling and judging plants, across North America, since the 1930’s. The judges are experts in the field of horticulture, including representatives from seed and plant developers and growers, arboretums, garden centers, public gardens and land grant universities.
Among the AAS winners that I’ve tried that have found a nearly permanent place in my garden include the Arizona Apricot Gaillardia, Red Sails and Salad Bowl lettuces, the Queen Sophia marigold, Sugar Snap peas, a lot of sweet peppers such as the Cornito Giallo (which did well for me last year), Giant Marconi, and my all time favorite sweet pepper, the Gypsy.
Other AAS winners for me that I’ve grown fond of over the years include Bloomsdale spinach, Black Beauty zucchini, zinnias such as Queen Lime Orange and Zowie Yellow Flame (a makes for a great cut flower by the way).
Oh, and of course, tomatoes: Over the years, I’ve been wowed by the production and taste of big beef, celebrity, chef’s choice orange and Juliet.
So, what are the 2024 winners in the opinion of the All America Selections judges? You’ll have to listen to Episode 303 or read the transcript.
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Choosing Bare Root Roses
Bare root rose season has arrived at local nurseries and garden centers. Shop in January and February in warmer climates for the widest selection at the best prices. Colder climates will be getting in their rose bushes a little later.
The term, “bare root roses”, has been redefined over the last 10 to 20 years. Back then, you could walk over to a sawdust-filled raised bed in the back of the nursery, and pull out a leafless, thorn-covered stick that interested you. In the 21st century, packaging those young roses in a plastic wrap became more common.
Now, many nurseries are going the extra step, and displaying bare root roses that are already planted in a special mix, in pulp pots. According to the nurseries, these potted bare roses are easier to handle and more convenient for the time-constrained gardener.
A truly bare root rose that you may have purchased in the past was probably wrapped in sawdust and wet newspaper for your trip home. It needed to immediately get plunked into a large bucket of water and planted within 24 to 48 hours. The plastic-wrapped rose plants, still commonly found at the big box stores, also need your care that same afternoon. They need to be freed from the plastic wrap and rehydrated in a big bucket of water (or bathtub) overnight. And there’s another reason for nurseries to pot up those bare root roses for their display tables:
“They make more money that way,” says Master Rosarian Debbie Arrington, the vice-president of the Sacramento Rose Society.
I chatted recently with Arrington on the “Garden Basics” podcast where she offered several tips for choosing a healthy bare root rose. Her advice included:
• When buying a rose plant, especially one wrapped in plastic, choose those with a “Grade 1” on the label.
“A number one rose is a premium rose,” explains Arrington. “For them to get that standard they must possess flower-ready canes. Those are canes that are going to flower the first year. And for a number one rose, it needs to have three flower-ready canes that will be guaranteed to grow and flower in that first season. A number one and a half might have three flower ready canes, too. But they might be thinner, and not quite as robust as a number one. And number two roses only have two flower-ready canes. A number three rose is what I like to call, “a one cane wonder”, with possibly only one root. A number one has a very good root system on it, you're going to have at least three very good roots. The number one and half roses might not have as strong a root system, but you're still going to have multiple roots. A number two rose will have only one or two roots down there.”
• Packaged bare root roses need immediate care.
“Those packaged roses will have their canes covered with wax,” says Arrington. “And that's usually to preserve moisture. Those roses were dug up out of the field back in September, so they can get them to the retail market. They dip the canes in wax so they can hold in as much moisture as possible. Those plants have been out of the ground for months, and they haven't had any water in that time because they take them to the packaging houses soon after they've done that waxing job. That plant needs a drink of water as soon as it gets home. You want to soak the whole plant. And you’ll need a very large bucket. Usually, the bathtub might work better. They need to be soaked at least overnight before planting.”
• Examine the rose canes carefully.
“The canes should be green and healthy,” says Arrington, who has won multiple awards for her rose blooms at rose shows throughout Northern California. Rose canes can start to get gray and gnarly because they're forming a bark. But that restricts the flow of nutrients. You want canes that look healthy, green, and smooth.”
Fred Hoffman is also a University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener in Sacramento County. And he likes to ride his bike(s).