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Roses Online: A Blooming Industry |
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Written by Marisa Gillen
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 There is an easier way to shop for roses.
Most of us who enjoy gardening, and know how demanding that hobby can
be, breathe a sigh of relief when cold weather sets in. After the
leaves have fallen, blanketing beds and lawns, a hard-earned winter’s
rest seems to be the order of the day. For the rose gardener, however,
plans for next season are already in full swing. As soon as the beds
been prepared for winter and the equipment cleaned and stored, online
rose catalogues are released with new offerings and specials for the
upcoming year.
Roses of all varieties are sold by a group of specialty nurseries
beginning in late fall and early winter. Unlike infamous Christmas in
July promotions, the early posting of online and mailed rose catalogues
is not about making a profit during gardeners’ downtime. Roses are
harvested from the growers fields in late fall and early winter and
then stored for delivery in early spring, when the plants are shipped
bare-root. And, unlike potted roses, which are planted in May,
bare-root roses must be planted very early.
Bare-root delivery means the plant is shipped in a dormant state, without benefit
of a pot or soil. When it arrives, it should be soaked overnight for hydration. It can be
kept in water up to a week during inclement weather, and then either placed in a pot or planted in the garden.
Bill Kozemchak, president of the Philadelphia Rose Society, cares for
well over 1,000 roses on his quarter-acre site. He estimated more than
half of his spring rose order this year will be bare-root.
“Bare-roots offer a larger selection of roses not always found in
nurseries,” he said. “In some cases, I can get them on multiflora which
is a hardier root system then the rootstock found in the local
nurseries.”
Typically, Canadian nurseries specialize in this rootstock because of
climactic reasons. There also seems to be less trauma to roses when
they are planted in their dormant state, said Kozemchak. In zone six,
which encompasses most of this region, bare-roots are planted at the
end of March or in early April.
Kozemchak reminds gardeners to add “lots of organics to the planting
hole or the “Good quality leaf compost can sometimes be found at local
municipalities who grind leaves and tree branches in the fall for area
residents to take,” he said. “Adding a good quality organic fertilizer
to the hole or pot in which the rose is planted is also a good idea.”
Only use an organic fertilizer when roses are fist planted. Other
options may act too quickly and can burn the tender root systems. Also,
keep in mind only aged cow manure should be used.
The selection of roses online and in catalogues is enormous. Some
companies carry more than 1,000 varieties. Specialty vendors carry both
modern and antique roses including hybrid tea roses, landscape roses,
miniatures and categories not available locally. Though nothing will
ever replace the joy of wandering through a local nursery, purchasing
bare-root is a cost-effective method of purchasing unusual roses by
mail.
Marisa Gillen is a member of the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Rose Society.
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