Roses are some of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow. With their delicate scent and stunning bloom they’re the crowning glory of any English country garden. Our Cotswold Company home is always full of the decorative and regal rose, so we were keen to find out more about how to grow and cut our own and avoid the expense of a florist. We caught up with our horticultural gurus at the Norfolk Olive Tree Company to ask them where to start, so they’ve given us 6 easy steps to guide us towards creating our very own floral heaven…
Step one. Choose a deep container for planting your roses as they generally have long roots for anchoring the plant and searching out moisture and nutrients. Bare-root roses can be planted from late autumn to early spring but container-grown roses can be planted out all year round, The best roses for growing in containers are the patio and miniature types, which can be grown in fairly small but deep pots 23-35cm (9-14in) deep.
Step two. Use a compost such as loam-based John Innes No 3 mixed with a multi-purpose compost or very well-rotted manure for richness. Position the container before filling with compost as it may be too heavy to move once planted up.
Step three. Roses love sunshine and should receive sun for at least half the day. However it is important that container-grown plants do not dry out as they could become prone to powdery mildew. If possible position the container so that it is shaded for part of the day, leaving the plant itself in full sun.
Step four. Keep the pots raised on feet and add a drainage layer of gravel at the bottom to ensure good winter drainage.
Step five. Roses use up food reserves quickly and grow better if top-dressed each spring with a granular rose fertiliser. Avoid feeding after August as soft growth may be damaged by cold winters
Step six. Every second year, remove the top 5cm (2in) of compost and replace with a fresh layer. Roses are hungry plants so water well, especially in their first year.
Best of luck with your roses, share some pics with us if you have success!
