I have been fortunate enough to grow two standards and one shrub of Polar Joy or Northern Encore or Jerry's Apple Blossom, however you wish to call it. They were sent to me from T&T Seeds in Winnipeg, Manitoba, during garden-trial days. Jerry Twomey and his two newphews even visited here in London, ON, to see how they were doing. They have been outstanding, particularly if you need a cane-hardy standard. Of the five standards of this rose I know, two have sent up new basal canes which have overtaken the cane pruned to be a standard. As mentioned, this is the same rose top to bottom, not grafted. Perhaps the new canes should have been ripped off to preserve the existing standard... As impressive as Polar Joy is as a standard, I prefer in more as a shrub, and this is why I write. It becomes a beautifully shaped six foot in-all-directions plant, almost continuously in bloom and disease free. I urge anyone looking for a landscaping plant to consider it. It helps to be partial to singles. Steve.

RE: Minnesota Hostaholics Running List-2011 Edition clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by sharlened 3 (My Page) on Wed, Jul 6, 11 at 22:26 Hey y'all.... some new Minnesotans have popped up this year. If you are from Minnesota, add yourself to this list. Copy the MOST RECENT post, add your info to the bottom of the list! Screen Name...............Real Name...............City ThisIsMelissa.............Melissa............Lakeville jel48.....................Joyce................Owatonna (moved? she is in the U.P. of MI now) teresa_mn................Teresa...............Minnetonka dentaybow................Jan.................... arcy..........................................Hutchinson (moved also?) Klas8405.................Karla...............NW Anoka County Lynnda.............................................N. St. Paul andi3216..........................................Mounds View rubybaby43..............Kristy....................Ramsey esox48............................................Apple Valley AppleBrownDebbie..................................Little Falls GardenGal101.................Heather...............Edina JenLaurel..........................................St. Michael maidofshade..............Cheryl.................Silver Lake andi_mn...................Andi...................Red Wing cjlars..................................................Pennock diggetydig.........................................Clear Lake hostaholic2................Joyce....................Hutchinson PutnamGardens..............Lisa.................St. Paul tscbcowboy........................................Apple Valley . duluthinbloomz4.............Sue.................Duluth just_one_more...............Mike..............Minneapolis (Lake Nokomis) missy23......................................Linwood/Wyoming phyllis__mn.......................................North Central MN HappyInTheGarden..........Mary.................Apple Valley loisf.....................Lois..................Orono (western Mpls. suburb) Paul_in_MN...............Paul..................Maplewood lillyann70...............Cheryl................Ramsey, Mn firethorn................Sarah.................Lino Lakes chevy57..................Sheila................Pine City jennaj_z4mn..............Jenna.................Hanover greenthumbz4mn...........mary..................White Bear Lake, MN regattagirl..............Lisa...................Plymouth, MN hockeychik................Sue...................St. Michael rob_in_mn.................Rob...................North Oaks greenthumbz4mn............mary..................White Bear Lake Becke52......................Peg......................Arlington BeverlyMN.................Beverly...............Roseville SharleneD.................Sharlene...............Perham gramma_jan_mn_zn_4........gramma jan........Mankato, MN jodikay...................Jodi..............North Branch

Hello, welcome to Duluth! I live about twenty miles from Duluth. I usually plant tomatoes around the first week of June. It can and does freeze after May 15. I only plant varieties that reach maturity in less than 70 days. This year I was unable to start any plants from seed so I was forced to buy plants. I planted Mr. Stripey, Oregon Spring, and Sun Sugar. This is the best I could come up with after shopping at about eight or nine greenhouses and nurseries. I am beginning to believe all anyone here wants to sell or plant is Early Girl. Boring. One factor that you need to pay attention to is whether the plant sets fruit in cooler temperatures. The Mr. Stripey is just this week getting blossoms. The Oregon Spring is doing well with a lot of tomatoes. This is my first year trying Mr. Stripey, so I am assuming we needed warmer nights for it to fruit. Oregon Spring has done well for me in the past. Silvery Fir Tree, and Ropreco for a paste tomato do well. Many say Stupice is a good producer here. I plant my hot peppers in pots so I can move them around in the fall. Many vegetables that are planted directly as seed in the ground further south, must be planted as seedlings here to be productive, cucumbers and zucchini are two examples. You can even buy lettuce seedlings. The city of Duluth is in zone 4, but the further you are from Lake Superior the more likely you are in zone 3. I hope this helps. Welcome to Minnesota!

The ideal wintering temperature for dormant roses is around freezing. So the basement is too warm. The garage is probably the better bet. Don't try to bring it in too early. Wait until nighttime temperatures are consistently below freezing. Here, that is usually early December. I'd expect it to be earlier where you are, but not by a great deal.