I have a few Hybrid Teas in pots. Mine are all own-root, being as I'd actually prefer them without the extra vigor that a hardy rootstock would give. The smaller ones are in 15" diameter pots, while the more robust ones are in 22 1/2" resin barrels (from Home Depot -- $20 each). I left mine out unprotected all Winter, and they seem to have gotten through it just fine. But if you're in a colder area than I am (I'm in central NJ, zone 7a), they may need to be brought into an unheated garage or something.

:-)

~Christopher

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rosesgal/msg0702502126565.html Here one that Pappu grew its a Polar Joy standard that he kept outside in zone5. The color is off in the picture but would certainly be one that would work for you.

I grow my roses in 7gal, 10gal, and plastic Costco pots with great success. You will need to fertilize and water more, but your roses will be just fine in pots.

I have a couple of potted roses in northern Virginia. Mine spend January and February in an unheated garage. When the weather starts to warm, they go out for the day and back in at night. The schlepping back and forth gets old. Since this spring has been cold, they probably have two more weeks of in and out.

I have grown 30 some roses in pots for the past 9 years. I'm in zone 6 north of Detroit. HTs will do great in LARGE pots, as large as you can find, but they will need to be either put in an unheated, insulated garage for winter or will need some kind of extensive winter protections.

When growing roses in pots they will need very good drainage, more often watering and extra fertilizer. The drainage is to keep the roots from rotting but that brings on the need for more often watering because pots dry out quicker than the ground. That more often watering will wash some nutrients out of the pot so you have to fertilize a little more often than you would roses in the ground.

My bad Pappus rose standard was Electric Blanket. Polar Joy is a pink standard that can also be left out side in your winters.

1700 roses, that is inspiring!

I grow nearly all of mine in pots. This year I'll have 26 pots of roses. I aim for a container 17-18 inches deep. I've got HTs, floribundas, and grandifloras in there, and most seem to do well. The trick is keeping them watered daily, as you're their best water source. I'm in zone 7, and in winter move them to a sheltered (though still outdoor) location.