Pick Of The Bunch For 2016

One of the great things about growing roses is the never ending choice of new rose varieties coming onto the market each year. Some would say, it is almost too many new roses but you can never have too much of a good thing.

As I wrote in my March column, creating new rose varieties just don’t happen overnight. Rather it is at least 10 years from the initial cross between the two parents to when the rose makes it to market and there is no guarantee of success commercially. Something’s will help, like having a catchy name, a good colour and some scent but often it comes down to pure luck and being in the right place at the right time.

New seasons roses start hitting the garden centres from Queens Birthday weekend and deliveries being made from mail order nurseries. It pays to get in early because new rose varieties are often limited in numbers in their first year and sell out quick. In fact it is not a bad idea to order early as often garden centres are doing their rose ordering before Christmas i.e. a full six months before delivery.

The following is a selection of new rose varieties coming onto the market this winter. Some may already be sold out so if you do want the variety, it is never too early to order ahead for 2017.

Acapella: A new Hybrid Tea with large blooms of cherry red with a silver reverse to the petals. Very fragrant. A tall, healthy grower. Tasman Bay Roses.
Christophe: (pictured left) A bright tangerine orange rose that catches the eye. Lightly fragrance, this rose received a Certificate of Merit, NZRS Trials, Palmerston North 2014. Matthews Nurseries.

Columba’s Rose: Large fragrant blooms of deep cream are a feature of this variety and sometimes they have a quartered appearance. Named for centenary of Columba’s College in Dunedin. Tasman Bay Roses.
Imagine: (pictured right) A richly fragrant coral pink Hybrid Tea with blooms ideal for picking. Medium, bushy grower with good health. Matthews Nurseries.
For Your Eyes Only: (pictured left) One of the Persica Hybrids with a blend of apricot, peach and pink with a purple eye. Free flowering, scented and healthy. Tasman Bay Roses.
Nelson College: (pictured right) Globular blooms of bright red with a slight scent. Medium growing with dark green foliage. Tasman Bay Roses.

Wollerton Old Hall: (pictured left) A David Austin variety with soft apricot blooms paling to cream. One of the most fragrant English varieties and it is best grown as a climber. Extremely healthy and good repeat. Tasman Bay Roses.

In the rose garden for May:  It’s a quiet month in the rose gardens ahead of the winter months.

• Continue to prepare the soil for new plantings.
• Dig over and add compost ready for winter planting.
• If planting where roses have been before, swap the soil for that in another part of the garden.
• Clean up around your roses by removing any fallen leaves and debris.
• Discard any roses you wish to no longer grow.
• Order new seasons roses for winter planting from garden centres and rose nurseries.

By Hayden Foulds. Read more here.