Thank you, Stephanie, for the tip of Garden Tutor Soil pH Test kit strips. I find that soil pH test via a solution (red-cabbage juice) is more accurate since it takes at least 1/2 hour for the minerals in soil to dissolve in water. I tested soaking coffee ground in red-cabbage juice, at first it was acidic (pinkish), but after 1/2 hour soak, the solution became clear, coffee ground is known as a buffer. Same with rose park nearby, they scattered a layer of gypsum on top of their clay. I scoop up 1 heaping Tablespoon of their soil and tested in red cabbage juice. At first the solution turned pinkish (acidic), from the 18% of sulfur dissolved first. After 1 hour, the solution became very blue (alkaline), from the calcium of gypsum being slowest to dissolve, plus the alkaline minerals in soil was slow to dissolve. SARENA: for the reason above, it's best to mix gypsum 1 month in advance into soil, and let rain or a few waterings release its acidic sulfur to dissolve minerals in soil (rather than to corrode roots). Since you are in a high-rain climate, it's good to have solid minerals on top to buffer acidic rain, such as a thick layer of Worm Casting (pH 7.4), or your clay (if alkaline like mine at pH 7.7). Vermiculite is to improve moisture and to hold nutrients, plus to make potting soil fluffy for wimpy own-roots. Perlite has zero nutrients but good to MIX-IN so roots can have more oxygen for growth. Own-root roses like moist but airy soil. Both vermiculite and perlite is best mixed into potting soil. One rooting method recommended by University of CA at Davis is to mix 1/2 vermiculite (for moisture & cation exchange) plus 1/2 perlite (for aeration).

I heard from her about the ones that I asked for since early of 2021 (last year). But her Austins were sold out within the 1st minute thanks to some big orders of 50 or 20 roses. I was able to get non-Austins plus Wise Portia (I asked for Wise Portia early in 2021 when mine died through that winter). I gave a long list of substitutes knowing that Austins would be sold out fast. Also with Roses Unlimited summer sale for the past decade, I never could get any Austins except for loser like A Shopshire Lad. I got into the habit of giving a very long list of substitutes for Roses Unlimited summer sale since 2011, and did the same for LongAgoRoses.

joeywyomingzone4 I appreciate the info. gave. You wrote: "The vegetable garden has been a bit of a disaster. The Kellogg's Organic Raised Bed soil that I bought to fill my planter boxes turned out to have an excessively high salt content and killed the seedlings I raised, along with the replacement plants I purchased from the nursery. It even killed bindweed that tried to grow up the side of the planters and root in the dirt! So, I thought I'd let you know that the Kellogg's brand of soil has been really toxic for me." Joey. garden nest 101 Z5 northeast: ALERT about Better Homes and Garden bagged soil for container (black bag) sold at Walmart: It's also high in salt and made by rootings broke out in mildew. It has turkey manure, too salty. The other rootings, planted in BEYOND PEAT potting soil (purple bag at Walmart) DO NOT HAVE MILDEW. BEYOND PEAT is the purple bag on sale this fall for $2, versus $5 for Better Homes and Garden container soil. So the cheaper price is actually better quality. Scott's bagged topsoil (red bag) sold at Walmart also changes the formula to be higher salt. Back in 2012 I was foolish to mixed horse manure into my clay, then planted 3 Austin own-roots. They broke out in salt burn (brownish at the edge of leaves). In 2012 I replaced the soil with Scott's bagged topsoil, and each Austin gave 40+ blooms as 1st-year own-root & very healthy. Back then that soil had lots of black peat (decomposed peat), thus high in nitrogen. Fast forward to 2022, I bought Scott's bagged topsoil, and the ingredients changed to LESS expensive black peat & MORE cheap & salty horse manure. I found a wad of brownish horse manure inside. It's saltier, and made my roses broke out in mildew, plus brownish burn at edge of leaves. Will scrape off that soil which I used to top my air-pots.

@strawchicago z5 and @Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley Thank you for the info! I just emailed Linda from LAR and she got back to me right away. I will definitely be placing an order with her. Her farm is only and hour and a half away from me, so with the quick shipping time to my house I am excited to see how well they do for me. Heirloom roses is all the way across the country and this year it took 10 days from the day they shipped my order for them to get to me. I was a nervous wreck!