Suggestions needed: urban neighborhood grocery garden

10 years ago

Hello! Seeking your feedback and suggestions with this.. Definitely need your help here.

OK, here's the back story: Volunteering to create a garden space for an urban grocery store in Kansas City. The current closest grocery store in this inner city neighborhood is 7 miles away (most people in this neighborhood don't have a car). This grocery will provide families access to healthful foods. They will be breaking ground this spring. Part of the grocery store, there will be a garden to provide the area with a nice greenspace to enjoy. We will be creating this green space at the end of the month to get some excitement around the project.

The area is full sun. As far as upkeep is concerned, a local landscaping company has committed to maintaining this area for its first 3 years (in addition to nearby neighborhood associations) with weekly waterings (as needed), pruning and fertilizing. If I find a rose that I am comfortable will be a good fit, I will be meeting with the landscape company and the neighborhood associations to make sure they know how to care for the roses.

Would love to add some roses to this green space. Should also mention that I really dislike Knockout Roses. I just feel like they are so overused, their bloom is not that beautiful (nice from a distance though) and they have no fragrance. That said, I realize why they are so popular.. They are so low maintenance and disease resistant!

Here's my question: Are there any rose varieties that are low maintenance (disease resistant-- this is important), fast growing, and either have a hybrid tea shaped bloom or cabbage shaped bloom that are not of a Knockout variety? Fragrance would be a plus but not a necessity.

And if you only think that a Knockout would work, I'm OK with that but would prefer to have something different. Would really love to get some roses here because I think that there needs to be more roses in the world, and help others fall in love with them like I have. But if you all don't think that there's something that would flourish, be honest-- I want to see this green space do well.

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Comments (10)

donaldvancouver
10 years ago
Hello- I'm afraid I don't know much about conditions in Kansas, but to answer your question, yes. You have many choices beyond the Knockouts. This season I have had my eye on Beverly and Mother of Pearl. They're both drop-dead gorgeous and healthy. Beverly's fragrance will hit you from three metres away. Also look at the newer Kordes. Summer Sun, Winter Sun, Garden Delight, and all of the Fairy Tales fit your bill. Frances Meilland is stellar in our climate. Julia Child is very good.
If any of these interest you, I suggest you run the names past your local rosarians and get their feedback on how they perform in your conditions.
In general, look for newer roses by breeders who are selecting for health in no-spray conditions.
don
roseseek
10 years ago
I'd imagine black spot would be your greatest disease pressure. As there are five, different races of black spot in the US and no one knows which ones you have (usually multiple types) and as there is no list of which roses resist which types, your best bet is to check with your local rose society and any local nurseries who have a decent supply of roses to find out which ones are as spot free as possible WHERE you are. What is resistant in Canada, California or New York is not necessarily going to be resistant in Kansas as the diseases are most likely different. If you know Knock Outs work there, and if this space is going to produce food, it seems like a no brainer to me from a safety stand point. Kim
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nanadollZ7 SWIdaho
10 years ago
Kate, aka dublinbay, is from Kansas, so she might have some suggestions, but with all due respect to Kansas, Kansas City is actually located in Missouri, though this city is near the Kansas border. Diane
roseseek
10 years ago
Thanks, Diane. Kim
meredith_e Z7b, Piedmont of NC, 1000' elevation
10 years ago
If your diseases work out to be like mine, I'd say:

-- Paul Bocuse for a very ornamental bloom and excellent fragrance and doesn't grow out of bounds. If I had to pick the healthiest, easily-manageable rose with a large, old-fashioned bloom I have, I'd say he's my best.

-- Bow Bells has less fragrance and the bloom is simpler, but she is even easier to grow well (like you can forget to water her!). Still doesn't grow out of bounds (here). Low thorn, too.

-- Bonica is very easy, with no fragrance. Just a really easy rose that still has blooms that are more HT-like than most of my workhorses. Her blooms are smaller. Great hips late in the year!

-- Morey's Pink is prettier than Bonica, imho, and just as easy, but the blooms are getting a bit small for this list. The quantity of well-formed blooms and ease make this one of my top 5 roses, so I have to suggest her, though! No fragrance to my nose.

I've heard great things about Our Lady of Guadalupe, but I've never grown her.

I adore the Kordes roses, but mine kind of sprawl and grow more unruly and large unless I train them or prune certain ways. I don't mind that a bit, but that's why I didn't include them or other roses that can get a bit wild and big. Weeding is tougher, etc. I just think the others are easier, but my Kordes are certainly healthy.
seil zone 6b MI
10 years ago
Home Run is pretty bullet proof but looks much like KO and has no fragrance. Julia Child, on the other hand, is nearly as spot free, has gorgeous blooms and fragrance!
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
10 years ago
This is a Double Knockout rose bloom. They grow 4ft x 3ft here. Blooms are 2" - 3"... Mostly near 3" here.
I do not get those star shaped blooms that I have seen on other double knockout roses not sure what that's all about?

But yes if you want to go non - knockout then check with your local growers, rose society, etc. for what roses work in your area.

{{gwi:281384}}
nastarana
10 years ago
You might want to consider some of the Medilland series. Pink and White Medilland have high ARS ratings. Pink does get some BS and is a wimpy grower in my climate. White is better for me.

Alba Medilland is a repeat blooming small rambler, and looks splendid draped over a fence.
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
10 years ago
Another place you could look for information is the New York Botanical Garden where they switched out all the roses in 2007 to more disease resistant and are growing without chemicals. They offer a list of which roses they are growing too.

I have 'Julia Child' and so far I've found it to be one of the easiest and most dependable to grow without chemicals. Medium size yellow flowers, lots of rebloom.

Here is a link that might be useful: Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
10 years ago
I think I would plant blueberry bushes rather than roses. Blueberries are quite ornamental and the berries are one of the most nutritious.

Suggestions needed: urban neighborhood grocery garden

Comments (10)

donaldvancouver

roseseek

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