The method of stratification suggested is: "Place them in a plastic bag with some moist (not wet!) peat moss, or a mixture of moist peat and sand. Poke some holes in the bag, you don�t want it air tight. Store them in this mixture at room temperature for a period of 105 days. After 105 days move them to your refrigerator for another 105 days. Don�t put them way in the back where they might freeze. You want them cool, but not frozen. After 105 days of storage in the refrigerator they should be ready to plant outside. Just time it so that you get them outside just after the danger of frost has past. While the seeds are being stored check them weekly, if you have fungus growing in the bag sprinkle a little fungicide in. Near the end of the storage period you should be checking for germination, as soon as 10% of the seeds have germinated they should be planted out. If it�s too early, plant them in a flat indoors, just make sure they get plenty of sunlight." And as scarification goes, they did not mention anything about the success, only that the idea is to make the seed more permeable to air and water.

Beth, I'm sorry to say, but it sounds like they are dead. The thorniness of the canes means nothing, but the darkness does. If you cut into them, you will see brown instead of a green rim with a white center. But check the bases of the plants, you may have some good growth there. If you do, cut away all the dead stuff. I wish I could tell you why the one Zephirine is doing well and the others didn't. Was the ground different there? Was it moister or drier in that spot during the winter? Did it have more protection from extra mulch or a building? You'll have to figure it out. When the forsythias bloom is when it is time to trim roses and they really start to grow at the point so you know for next year. I do hope you don't give up on roses. And next time post onthe regular or antique rose forum, you'll get way more responses and quickly too: ) Remy Here is a link that might be useful: Roses for the North

Silly harryshoe! I just picked out roses that are supposed to be easy to grow and don't require spray (mostly). So far, they have been healthy, except for Parade, who got some black spot from the shock of being planted (i'm clumsy) but recovered nicely. When does blackspot usually hit? Is it a good sign that these are healthy, or are *all* roses healthy this time of year? If anyone can tell me of your experiences with these cultivars and if they really can be grown no-spray, I'd be happy to learn.

Yes...You did good! I wanted to ask a question. I noticed none of you guys have ever mentioned planting Beefsteaks. Why is this? Is Beefsteak an over hyped 'pop' tomato? While there is a variety of tomato named Beefsteak, there are numerous other beefsteak tomatoes. Beefsteak is a term used to describe the shape of a tomato, just as a lot of little tomatoes varieties are called cherry tomatoes. Though you may not read of many folks growing Beefsteaks, they are indeed growing beefsteak shaped tomatoes. Beefsteak Tomato at Wikipedia If you scan through the list of tomatoes Here you will see that there are many with beefsteak in the description. You will likely recognize some that have been mentioned here as being grown. With maybe 10,000 varieties of tomatoes, many of us have at some time or another grown the named variety Beefsteak, but have since moved on to trying so many more of the 10,000 varieties available. Are there other kinds I should try next year? Undoubtedly there are...just keep reading and you will likely read of numerous ones you might like to try. Then you can mosey over to the Seed Exchange, (or the Exchange page here at this forum) make a post there, and trade off some of your Commercially bought Beefsteak for some other varieties. So many tomatoes...so little time and energy. Sue