I thought Portugal’s heat would make
rose growing difficult and make them shrivel in the intense heat of the summer,
but I couldn’t be more wrong. They actually do well here, and aside from times
of extreme weather, there really is no best time to plant.
Roses technically can get too much sun -
sunscald is primarily a cosmetic issue that will cause the leaves and flowers
to turn brown and crispy, and while most roses love the sun, the intense
afternoon heat can become too much, whether in the garden or in pots.
This sad sight may make you want to
prune them away, but don't – firstly because pruning will encourage new growth
that will be even more susceptible to sunburn, and secondly, the older branches
and leaves will help with shade. Resist getting your secateurs out until
September, and then prune back your rose bushes by 1/3, which will remove any
sun-damage and stimulate new growth.
Climbers are incredibly versatile plants
and need plenty of room to spread. There is even a species named ‘Belle
Portugaise’ (Bell of Portugal), with elegant, pointed buds that open to large,
rather loose pink blooms that hang down as if to spill out their strong tea
rose fragrance. This vigorous climber flowers for a long season and can
tolerate heat and limey soil.
Planting Tips
‘Bare rooted’ means the plant is
dormant, and experts say that because they have a larger root system, they
don’t suffer so much from transplant shock as ‘live’ roses in pots. Looking a
little sad in the garden centre, these are sold with just a few stumpy canes
emerging from the roots, wrapped in plastic or cardboard and have no soil,
while others are just seen in heaps at farmers markets. Don’t select one that
has any new growth starting - you want a plant that is still totally dormant,
and ideally it should have three to five canes that are plump and green – brown
or black canes may be sick or dead. Bare ends may be coated with a special waxy
product to protect them, which will wear off naturally. When home, soak the
roots for at least 6 and up to 24 hours. This helps the plant emerge from
dormancy and gets it ready to grow. If you soak for more than 24 hours, change
the water each day but for no longer than a week.
Before planting, snip the canes so that
they are around 15cm long and have three to five buds each. If you have more
than five canes, remove the smallest. Prepare a hole about 60cm wide and deep –
they say there’s no such thing as digging too large a hole for roses! The more
you can enrich the soil and improve aeration the better, so add rich, loamy
well-draining soil.
If you purchase a live rose, water it
generously immediately before planting out and dig a hole that is wide enough
and deep enough to hold the rose’s root mass. This should be approximately 40cm
wide x 60cm deep, then break up the soil at the base of the hole to allow the
roots to go deeper once it starts growing. Adding some well-rotted manure to
the hole will help the plant establish itself more quickly. Carefully remove
the plant from its pot and position it in the centre of the hole, then backfill
with the soil you took out originally.
Where to plant
Make sure the rose has some sun -
ideally at least 4 hours of sunlight daily - with some shade from the afternoon
sun being beneficial, and ensure the rose has enough space so that the roots do
not suffer from intense competition from neighbouring plants.
If you plant a climber, ensure the rose
has a structure to 'climb', and once it takes off, you will need to tie the
stems onto the supporting structure as it grows.
Water them generously to encourage
plenty of leaves and buds. Continue to fertilise them - a complete fertiliser
specific to roses is best and apply once a month.
Don’t forget to check regularly for
aphids and diseases and take early action!
Marilyn writes regularly for The Portugal News, and has lived in the Algarve for some years. A dog-lover, she has lived in Ireland, UK, Bermuda and the Isle of Man.
![](/img/placeholder.png)
We have three different varieties growing. Feed, water and pruning are the best ways to ensure good growth.
By Ian from Other on 27 Jun 2022, 06:32