I have decided to start with a few roses this year. Don't know why I waited until I moved to a zone 5 to do this! Here is my problem. I purchased some cheapies at Wal-Mart a couple of weeks ago at Wal-Mart because a shopper there convinced me she always buys them before they get picked over, and always picks ones with green shoots, and then waits to plant for a little while. I purchased, ignoring my senses. Now my roses have seriously kicked into high gear - growing - along with some that I ordered by catalogue that arived this weekend. The catalogue roses were supposed to arrive when appropriate planting time for my area. I have put the bare root ones through mail into some potting soil and am keeping in a cool darker location in house.
When dare I put these darlings outside? These are climbers and the others are prob a shrub type for natural fencing. Please advise! Thanks!
It is a bit cool out. Spring is late. However, you are further south than we are in Manchester. You can plant bare root roses now. They are dormant. They will wake up as the weather improves. You should soak in water 24 hours, but less than 48 unless you are going to change your water regularly. As for me I ordered my bare root roses to arrive next week because of the late spring. I frequently order for early to mid-April.
Avoid a serious beginner mistake. Plant the graft 3 - 4 inches below soil surface in Iowa, or kiss it goodbye this fall, because if the graft is above ground you'll have a dead bush next spring.
