Two questions: feeding and 'Maiden's Blush'

16 years ago

Ok, I'm in Maryland, we are FINALLY getting signs of spring (temps have climbed to above 60 degrees for four days now, the daffs are out etc etc).

When should I start feeding the roses? They're showing clear signs of growth, but how soon is too soon?

Secondly: last year while vacationing in Colonial Williamsburg, I picked up a Maiden's Blush rose - this was before I started researching and learning about the virulent blackspot in my area, and I just fell in love with the thing.

Anyway, it overwintered in a pot (don't ask - long story) and although it's essentially a twig at this point it IS actually alive and showing signs of leaves and buds coming back on to it, although there are no actual leaves there yet. I put it in the ground today but... what now? What should I do to nurse it back to some kind of health? I can imagine I'm going to have to spray it (sigh), but ... what does it need now to get it growing?

Many thanks for any advice!

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Comments (7)

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
16 years ago
Albas are hit or miss in the east regarding blackspot. It might actually be OK. As for taking care of it don't mow it. Very important. Aside from that, possibly the best thing is to just stay away from it. No fertilizer. Watering only if it's been very, very dry, and only pruning out dead wood. A lot of once-bloomers require a dormant period, and really don't care for pots, so they just sort of sit there and roll their eyes at you. Sort of like dogs when you insist on giving them the wrong stuff (dog food) instead of the right stuff (cheese ravioli with lots of tomato sauce).
reg_pnw7
16 years ago
Feeding: when the roses have about 4" of new growth on them.

Maiden's Blush: yes, leave it alone. And I would suppose that the Dont' Mow It advice goes for any rose except miniatures ...

Since you only just now put it in the ground, there's nothing else expected of you at this point. Let it alone. It needs to grow roots before it can do anything else, for one. For another, yes, the once bloomers can be very slow to get going and they don't like being fussed over. No pruning. Wait for new growth to fertilize. Do spray for blackspot regularly as soon as the leaves are out, if bs is bad in your area. Here, in the heart of blackspot country, I've found that the albas don't get much. Spraying reduces it, but it's not as necessary as on some other roses.
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len511
16 years ago
lol on the don't mow it. i have found that they give you at least one, maybe 2 chances and then poof, they're gone.
divamum
Original Author
16 years ago
Ok, n00b that I am I'm totally clueless on the "mowing" - you mean, like, literally... witha mower? (Oh my goodness is there ANYTHING worse than having to explain a joke?! Sorry.... ::digs toe in ground and looks ignorant::

Anyway, thanks for all the advice - sounds like I just need to let it sulk in peace and hope that it changes its mind :)

Here's a picture of the twig, and also a closeup of the kind of growth it's starting to show. For the record, apparently our area of the Maryland appears to have some of the worst BS around, so we'll see... when it HAD leaves last year they did succumb - those are the only bits of it that have h ad any kind of removal or pruning at all.

Anyway, here's the pix:

{{gwi:239090}}

{{gwi:239091}}
divamum
Original Author
16 years ago
I'll tell you this: less than a week in the ground - with INSANE temperature swings (yesterday was nearly 80 degrees and tonight it's supposed to get down into the 30s!) and it's already doubled the size of those buds pictured above as well as put out half a dozen more. I think it might like it here after all...

I'll keep you posted!
patriciae_gw
16 years ago
You have experienced--GET ME OUT OF THIS POT!!--Like Mad Gallica said, many OGR's do not like pot culture and will just sit and sulk. I see this alot with Gallicas and Mosses. Put them in the ground and stand back. Around here Great Maidens Blush is the more black spot reisitant of the pair. Maidens Blush is a lovely rose.

patricia
divamum
Original Author
15 years ago
And six weeks later...

{{gwi:239092}}

Wow.
Wow.
GaWOW.

I actually was so convinced it didn't stand a chance I stuck it in a back corner so that if (or as I thought, WHEN) it died it wouldn't be so obvious. But look at it! I've circled where the buds are coming out - if we get a few decent warm days (weather has been atypically cold for the region this year) it's going to go NUTS. In fact, it's doing WAY better than my 3 New Dawn, started back in the autumn, but which looked to be in MUCH better shape back in March!

I think I'm in love with this rose. I'm really REALLY impressed by this one and thus the Albas are now going RIGHT ot the top of my list (I prefer old roses anyway, so it's perfect as far as I'm concerned). Any recommendations? Also, are the Gallicas as robust, determined to live and GLORIOUS as this lovely thing is trying to be? I saw a picture of De Guiche and, being a Cyrano de Bergerac fan am completely intrigued by the idea. But do they do as well? We have humid summers and bad, BAD blackspot roun' here, so... Thanks for any input!

Two questions: feeding and 'Maiden's Blush'

Comments (7)

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)

reg_pnw7

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Two questions: feeding and 'Maiden's Blush'

Comments (7)

mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)

reg_pnw7

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