Hi Nettiesgarden,

I planted some "own root" teas last summer. They grew well and looked very good, esp. considering I planted them in July. It is a little early to tell what will come back. I think I lost one for sure because all of the winter cover blew off, or was removed my the rabbits who dined on the exposed canes. The others are green at the base, but the only bush with new growth - as of yesterday, is Crown Princess Margarita, an Austin.

Get the Milestone. It is one of the most beautiful roses ever grown. We planted our old Milestone quite deep and some of the canes rooted on their own. We had it for @ 13 years. It was lost to that dreadful winter of 2002(?).

Thanks Althea- glad to hear that most survived. Most of my new rose garden(grafted ht's) lived but the lengths that I went to....oh well, as long as I am going to fuss to keep them alive I'm going to get my Milestone.

"Own root" roses really are the only way to go here. I've had wonderful luck with them.

-Marie

Yesterday I had my wits about me and refrained from asking a very important question. Nettiesgarden, in case I lose a bush, or even if I don't, where did you find the Milestone?

Yes, PLEASE where did you find Milestone? I saw one at the arborateum last year and it was just beautiful...

Laura.

Roses Unlimited had it. Jackson and Perkins sent me a link of two other nurseries that also had it- very small bands or whatever they call them, but the link is at home right now. Pester me with an e-mail reminder if you want me to look that up tonight.

Here is a link that might be useful: Roses unlimited

Thanks for the link! We'll be calling Roses Unlimited today.

Wait wait! There's been an issue with the J&P Roses "New Generation" own-root - the rootstock isn't strong! Unless you have them growing in ideal conditions they won't make it. A lot of places that used to sell them won't be any longer due to this... Let me see if I can find the reference in my Live Journal! Yep, found it... but no direct reference given. Please research this before you buy. Seems they'll go for a year or two then die at the roots for no apparent reason. This was on a Rose Growers site, so please take it seriously. Being a lover of "own - root" roses I'd hate to have anyone buy a bunch of these only to find that they won't all make it. If you wish to find other own-root companies I can certainly let you know where I get mine.

Sorry to bring sad news like this - I'd been eyeing those myself!

-Marie

An extra note here - it is JUST the Jackson and Perkin's developed own-roots in the New Generation line... Roses Unlimited is a great place for other own-roots :)

-Marie

Hi Marie,

I asked about own-root ht's on the Organic Rose forum a year or so ago. One of the people who responded said you need to take extra care with winter protection during the plants' first two years or it likely won't make it. After that it should be fine. It's my understanding that J&P developed own-root roses & put them through extensive testing before marketing. After their introduction, others started growing and marketing them. There really shouldn't be any difference, other than variety between J&P and other growers. If you could find an "official" report about the problem, I'd like to read it. All of our new roses are J&P because we've had the most success with J&P roses in the past.

Althea, I'll question the poster more specifically. This was new data as of this year. The person in question had gone to find them at their usual spot this year and was informed of this new data.

Might I also recommend www.uncommonrose.com, www.rosefire.com, and www.heirloomroses.com for own-root? I've had the best luck of all from these three - and Rosefire is in our general region so they've been wintered in bad weather already. I ONLY grow own-root roses, and I have a nice little collection. I will have a couple Apothecary's Roses (Red rose of Lancaster) at the June swap.

-Marie

I got a very prompt reply - it was his local Oakland Nursery that decided to discontinue the J&P New Generations. A very reputable place, they'd gone to a huge conference and this came up. Many folks who carry own-root roses are no longer going to be carrying this type as they tend to go against the very reason to use own-roots - their toughness. They have to be babied WAY too much. Own-root roses should be able to be stuffed in the ground, lightly mulched (even here if they are zone hardy here - as in zone 4 or less) and fed occasionally. That should be it. Shouldn't need the drastic methods we use here for hybrid grafted teas.

I say go for it, see what happens. Personally, I prefer to NOT baby my roses - I have only one that I do and that's because it's a zone 6 and was my dad's rose, you also can't easily get it anymore (Red Pinnochio).

I'd see if J&P will guarentee them for more than just one year... :) they might! Best of luck! Any rose is a good rose ;)

-Marie

I searched the Organic Rose forum and found the thread I started on "Own root hybrid teas" is still available.

It was fun to re-read. I see I had already discovered Milestone at R.U.. Anyway, According to the description from Jung's catalog, "ORHT's" grown in any zone less than 6 should be protected. I don't think J&P is claiming anything more than Jung's.

Then, Field, one of the most reliable sources of info I've seen on GW had this to add:

"* Posted by: Field 8a/TX (My Page) on Wed, Jan 28, 04 at 16:24

It is a long held misconception that hybrid teas (and other types of roses) are budded on alien root stocks because they do better than on their own roots. This is certainly true with some of the modern inbred hybrids, but it isn't true in general.

The reason roses have been propagated mostly by budding and grafting for many years now is that it is the cheapest way to mass produce any variety of rose. There are many more growth buds than cuttings on any plant, and rooting cuttings and growing them out to salable size requires too much greenhouse space and time. Plus, some roses yield cuttings that are the very dickens to root."

Here's a link to the thread if you want to review it. We concluded that ORHT's are very similar to mini's in regard to care.

Here is a link that might be useful: organic rose thread

p.s. I came back to add one thing and see I cut some text from my last posted when I copied it from wp. It should have opened with "Thanks for the info Julie."

J&P doesn't guarantee their roses for a year. They guarantee the for 2 months!!! Maybe if you get one from a greenhouse you can get a longer guarantee, but if you order direct from the company the term is much shorter.

I haven't been impressed with Jackson and Perkins and don't order from them. One place that I really like is Sam Kedems Rose's. He is right here in Minnesota!

I buy 99% of my roses own root. I haven't tried yet the own root teas or other tender roses but I plan to eventually. What I have been doing for years is planting any grafted roses with the graft 4-6 inches below the ground. This encourages the rose to grow their own "own roots". I know Dentybow AKA Jan also plants hers this way.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kedem Roses