Yikes!!! New bare-roots arrived today - in the snow!

15 years ago

OK, I was expecting a Pickering delivery this week, which still hasn't arrived, when my David Austin order appeared on the doorstep this afternoon. They don't tell you when they're coming so I expected them in mid-April or so. That's when folks from similar zones have gotten them. Anyway, we had snow all day yesterday after temps in the 70s on Tuesday. It's only 41 degrees out there now.

So I think I can plant this weekend, but I'm afraid my soak water might freeze overnight. What's the best course of action? Should I keep them in the plastic bag until it warms up or just take my chances with soaking outside in the big plastic bucket? I could put them in the bathtub but I'm afraid the house will be too warm. I hate that they've already gone through big temperature fluctuations in transit. Any advice?

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Comments (5)

zack_lau z6 CT ARS Consulting Rosarian
15 years ago
I normally soak my bareroots in the garage--no problems so far with mid March deliveries to Central Connecticut.
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
15 years ago
Even if the surface freezes it isn't a big deal.

The big deal is when the vendors won't ship at the proper time - they wait too long. Establishing roses in a heat wave is among the most frustrating things I know of. Particularly since it would have been a snap if they had sent the plants when I wanted.
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I used to buy roses from S&W, who clearly tell you they only ship in February and aren't suited for colder climates. Being a zone pusher, I went ahead and tried it, using the technique that Mad Gallica talked about with putting the roses in a bag that stays slightly moist in the refrigerator. They all survived that method long enough to plant them out, but don't do this in a fridge that contains apples, because apples can interfere with some kinds of germination in seeds and I wouldn't risk it with roses. The two things I found I had to watch for with this method was: a) mold/mildew in the bag before they're ready to be planted out - if this happens, you need to reduce the moisture and clear away the mold, and perhaps move them outside earlier, and b) a clear tendency to canker or otherwise fail to thrive in their first summer. They might leaf out fine and start growing, but gradually have the canes die back from canker or verticullum wilt, and they wouldn't last the summer. A possible way to avoid this is a fungicide spray when planted, and/or my new method I'm trying to see if I can avoid wilt in bareroots - plant them with gypsum or epsom salts. You definitely want to get them outside as soon as the temperatures are back up into the 20's and not likely to go below zero any more. For me, this is the beginning of March, even before the ground fully thaws. My best strategy was to pull the bareroots out of the fridge after 2-3 weeks and plonk them in a large garden tub full of water, with the canes open above the water. Even when the water would freeze, it only did so in the first inch or so, and the remaining "pond" would stay liquid below the surface. This would provide some level of protection for those roots (and grafts) below the water, like the kind of protection the frozen ground provides below the frozen parts. Then you plant them out as soon as you can dig the hole - don't wait for your normal rose planting season. If you can't get the hole dug and the bareroots are starting to sprout, build yourself a temporary mound or pot somewhere outside with potting soil, so they can acclimate to the temperature and wake up when it's normal to wake up with the rest of your roses. Obviously, record cold temperatures and below zero is not the time to start outside acclimation, but 20's have worked fine for me. The other obvious point is that you need a full refund and replacement from this rose company. They goofed big time and they owe you full credit, even if the roses survive. Be firm and insist in every way you can, including denying the credit charges from your card if you have to go that route. Sympathies - but this can be survivable for the roses. Cynthia
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Thanks maifleur, I got a good one one for you - That loose stem I was mentioning was bothering me so I went out and gave it a second look. I thought it looked weird, about the size of my little finger but no sign of buds. I then realized what I suspected - it's actually a root which is attached to the side of the root stock which somehow got turned around so it was facing upwards! I pulled out the whole bareroot as I only planted it a few days ago. Turned out it's not loose just a little twisted so I turned it downwards and replanted. So your dummie comment is particularly appropriate! The limited instructions I got with the bareroot are as follows -"Our Japanese tree peonies are grafted on herbaceous peony roots. Planting a Japanese tree peony is similar to planting an herbaceous peony. Japanese tree peonies need to be planted deeper to stimulate the growth of tree peony roots. The grafting point should be 4-5 inches below the soil surface." The graft point as they say is not always totally clear and putting the point at which the stems reach the rootstock at 4 inches under would nearly bury a bud so I sort of averaged the middle of the rootstock which is only a few inches long at 4" deep. Hopefully I'm about right. I'll take a look at the book. I nearly always try to buy a book for the particular high value plants I'm using and I actually have Alice hardings "The Peony" and Martin Pages "The gardeners Guide to Growing...". Both of these are horrible IMO. Not one drawing of a planted rootstock and only a few pages on cultivation and site selection/preparation. Same thing with John Feltwells book on Clematis. Is the gardening trade unduly afflicted with poor writers?
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linrose
Original Author
15 years ago
I hear you, I knew I wanted them in mid-March and requested Pickering to deliver then, but for some reason DA roses say they'll ship at the appropriate time for my area. That's OK, as long as I get them in mid-March! And lo and behold, I got them and that's a good thing and the roses look big and healthy with a good root system and nice beefy green canes. First time ordering from them and so far they don't disappoint, and like Christmas, I like surprises, as long as they are nice ones like this!

Our springs go from freezing to 80 overnight it seems so I do like to get dormant plants in the ground now while there is plenty of moisture in the ground and before the hot drying winds and sunny days fry them before the roots start to grow.

I just freaked out a bit when they came because of the snow, my daughter had no school today because of it, but hey, that's Kentucky for you. One flake and they shut everything down. They were already out for a whole week due to the ice storm a few weeks ago.

So I started out soaking them in a garbage pail on the back deck, then worried about the water being too cold for them out there, and hauled them inside and they are now soaking in my daughter's bathtub.

She almost had a kitten when she went in to fix her makeup before going out tonight and saw "creepy things" in her tub! I'm pretty sure she thinks her mother has now completely lost it.

I don't think she will ever be a gardener.
barbarag_happy
15 years ago
Oh your poor daughter! Honestly your bare-roots don't belong in the house. Leave them out in the garage. Spring groundwater is only 40 degrees at best, air temps can go down to low 20's with dormants. You really want to keep the tops dormant for as long as possible. The advantage with bare-roots is the time they spend growing roots. The roots need that headstart, so when the tops leaf out and drying spring winds happen...the plants are ready Hope your Pickering order isn't farm behind the DA;s. How are the DA root systems, generous or trimmmmed?
linrose
Original Author
15 years ago
I know, Zandi is a trooper! But she already had her shower for the day and won't need it for a couple more! But you are right, I hauled them on out and back out into the bucket on the deck.

I heard from Pickering, they shipped on Tuesday, still no sign of them. I don't know if UPS delivers on Saturday but I hope so. I suppose they'll be OK in the warehouse or on the truck until Monday, it's certainly cool enough!

The roots on the DAs are fantastic. I snapped a photo to show you. Not trimmed to fit a package but left long. A few broken but that's to be expected.
{{gwi:239162}}

Yikes!!! New bare-roots arrived today - in the snow!

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zack_lau z6 CT ARS Consulting Rosarian

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)

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Yikes!!! New bare-roots arrived today - in the snow!

Comments (5)

zack_lau z6 CT ARS Consulting Rosarian

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)

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linroseOriginal Author

barbarag_happy

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