Wintering over roses

12 years ago

Because of our short growing season (90) days and long cold winters I grow roses in ten gallon containers and try to winter them over with limited success. I used to overwinter them at the green house but at $65 a plant it's just not worth it! I tried keeping them in the garage at40 degrees covered by brown paper bags to keep the light but they kept sprouting! I can't bury them outside for the winter because it is so cold. I put them under lights in the garage to begin growing out in late April and move them out when it warms up. I can get new plants by mail order every year but that gets pricey and the plants don't really fill out and bloom well. Any suggestions?

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Comments (5)

canadian_rose
12 years ago
Yes, I've grown Hybrid tea roses in zone 3 in containers for a few years.

I have a few threads on this forum where I've explained what I do. Do a search for them. If you have more questions, then come back to this thread and I'll answer your questions in more detail. :)

Of course others will probably chime in too. :)

Carol
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
12 years ago
Is there something else being stored in the garage that absolutely requires that it is so warm? Dropping the thermostat about ten degrees would help with the sprouting, and do a much better job of keeping the roses dormant.
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hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
12 years ago
It's just such a long, long time for them to be dormant. How do they build up strength and reserves enough to overcome a dormancy of 275 days out of every 365?

I would not think that is really a situation you can overcome without some significant investment in a heated, artificially lit greenhouse to extend the growing season. It may be achievable, but will it be satisfying?

Why not focus on what can be easily grown? My sister in Anchorage says the peonies there, if protected by Moose fencing, are spectacular. And your climate can grow something to perfection that the lower 48 can only dream of, Meconopsis, Himalayan blue poppies.

Expending your botanical palette could yield spectacular results, and far more satisfaction and happiness.

Here is a link that might be useful: Meconopsis, the true-blue poppy

This post was edited by hoovb on Thu, Dec 19, 13 at 11:41
canadian_rose
12 years ago
My roses do very well in the spring. :)
I leave my roses unpruned in the fall, and then just shape the bush in the spring. Because they are above the cold soil, they warm up quickly and growth is pretty quick. My roses are much nicer than HTs in the ground around here. They are at least 2 feet taller than other rose growers here. I get a lot more blooms too.
Very worthwhile.
Carol
seil zone 6b MI
12 years ago
If you can cool down that garage some that's still the best bet for wintering them over for you. At 40 degrees the roses aren't going dormant and that's why they're trying to sprout out. it's needs to be colder to convince them it's time to go to sleep. Then when you want them to start to wake up you can slowly bring the temps up and they'll start to sprout out again.