I use sulfur, and it isn't enough to keep Abraham Darby clean, but it is enough to keep him functioning. Right now AD is the only rose in my garden with bad black spot. Sulfur (such as Safer) and antitranspirants such as Wilt Pruf are fairly effective and respectably organic. "Remedy" in the store is chemically similar to baking soda, used in Cornell mixture. See the FAQ for these.

In 7b you'll find the teas, chinas, and noisettes a lot easier to grow than the Austin roses.

michaelg,

Thanks AD is going to get the rest of this year and then I will make up my mind. I have lots of teas and chinas which is what I am judging AD against.

I had problems with Adam from the start--it didn't grow much last summer while most of the others were growing rapidly; then in late summer/ early fall, its canes began to turn brown or black. I cut them off carefully, washing the cutters with alcohol between each cut. The strange winter we had added to its woes, and by spring it was barely alive. It put forth a few wrinkled leaves and died. Although I thought it was one of the most beautiful roses I had ever seen, I would hesitate to buy it again, because I have heard others complain of lack of vigor; however, for some it appears to do quite well. The other point to consider is that the rose sold as Adam is NOT the original Tea rose by that name; it has no thorns--the original did. This isn't a problem if you want a beautiful peach rose, but it's a big problem if you want Adam (1838). Many believe "Adam" is actually Mme Berard.

Lindsey

I guess it just goes to show regional differences:
abraham darby is one of the only blackspot free roses in my garden at the moment