November is a great time for rose enthusiasts as the first blooms start to appear and by the end of the month, there is a great display over much of the country which extends into December for parts of the South Island. It is certainly great to see all the new blooms appearing, especially on those new plants that we have planted over the last few months.
It is also great to be able to pick blooms and bring them inside to enjoy or give away to friends and family. How well roses pick varies between the different types of roses and also individual varieties. Some pick really well, others you are just wasting your time as no matter what you do, they don’t last.
The best time to pick roses is in the evening when the food supply is at its highest in the plant or alternatively, early in the morning is also a good time. Take a bucket of lukewarm water with you to which you can add a couple of drops of Janola or another anti-bacterial agent.
Pick your blooms with a sharp pair of secateurs, making sure the stem is as long as possible. Roses can be cut at any stage of flower opening as long as the sepals (those green things covering the bud) have turned down. That way, the flower will open up. For roses with lots of petals, wait until a row or two of petals have opened before removing.
Remove thorns around the lower part of the stem and get it into the water as quickly as possible and then re-cut them underwater by removing a thin sliver. This helps to prevent air bubbles from forming and the warmer water helps the water be drawn up the stems quicker. If you cannot get your blooms into a vase right away, keep them in a cool, darkened place away from draughts.
Preparing your blooms for the vase is much the same – re-cut stems under water again and on a slant, so it doesn’t sit flat on the bottom of the container and remove any foliage that will be underwater. Hygiene is very important to make sure containers are clean and add as above, a couple of drops of Janola or other anti-bacterial agents to the water. Adding some ice cubes to the water can also help.
Keep the vase out of direct sunlight and away from draughts like air conditioning vents. Check the water level daily and every few days, change the water and re-cut the stems as outlined above. Also, remove any spent blooms as they collapse.
With a little bit of extra effort, your beautiful blooms will last much longer and give you more enjoyment.
November is when many of the rose shows are on up and down the country including this year’s National Spring Rose Show in Whangarei. Follow this link for details.
In the rose garden for November:
- Roses will be coming into flower throughout the month so enjoy the spring blooms, especially those of any new varieties you have planted.
- Watch out for strong winds damaging new growth, especially basal shoots which appear from the base of the plant. Stake these or pinch the tips out
- Keep an eye out for pests and diseases and treat as appropriate.
- If you get a dry spell, water your roses to keep them going.
By Hayden Foulds
Hayden also serves as Deputy Chairman of the World Federation of Rose Societies Rose Trials Committee amongst other rose endeavours.
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