| Author | Message | ||
     Susan Serra (Sserra) Greenhorn Username: sserra Post Number: 2 Registered: 05-2006 |
I first used rose tone in early April and a week or two later, alfalfa. Then, one month after rose tone, decided to use bloomkote from rosemania, a time release fertilizer, said (by rosemania) to be from those who made MMM, but I found no reference. Well, the roses went quite nutty right after that. I didn't exactly want them bigger, but who can argue with more buds? They grew a lot. Now, I'm faced with thinking about pruning way down after the first flush, or accepting a jungle for the summer and fall. I slacked after early July last year and did not spray anymore, and blackspot emerged quite strong early this season, so we've been battling it back, and it's working so far. | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Supreme Crown Gall ! Username: steprose Post Number: 426 Registered: 01-2006 |
often, the cause of insect and disease issues is over-fertilization. What's more important than feeding the roses is to find out what is in the soil, or not in the soil. Organic fertilizers, if they are truly organic, work the soil, allowing better access for the feeder roots to natural materials found in the garden soil. Is your soil sandy? if so, fertilizers and water will pass relatively quickly, maybe too quickly (seaside gardeners have this issue). Is your soil more clay? all clay?, if so, fertilizers and water will remain for a long period of time around the roots. The perfect soil is a mix known as sandy/loam. However, roses (and other plants) will do just fine in clay, sand, rock... as long as you are aware of the situation and fertilize and amend accordingly. I've grown wonderful roses in the rock outcrops of coastal maine and in the red clay of Virginia's Piedmont region. Both required different approaches to the soil and fertilizing. Too much of any particular element, main elements and trace elements, can cause, among other things, too much vegetative growth that is delectable to sucking and chewing pests. This is true for everyone, not just NJ roses. | ||
| alida ray (Altora) Bug Squisher Username: altora Post Number: 97 Registered: 10-2005 |
me too, i add it when i'm planting, and put about a cup around each bush... kay, do you use anything else? alida | ||
| Kay Cangemi (Mad_gallica) Bug Squisher Username: mad_gallica Post Number: 53 Registered: 01-2006 |
I must be seriously overdoing it then. They don't seem to mind. The Rose Tone bag says 3/4 cup per rose. I always assumed that applied to NJ HTs, and was referring to much smaller roses than mine. So I just start spreading it around the rose, and finish when I'm done. For most of the once bloomers, it works out to about 3 cups or so. The really big ones may get 4 or 5 cups. | ||
| alida ray (Altora) Bug Squisher Username: altora Post Number: 96 Registered: 10-2005 |
Kricket Krap...LOL | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Supreme Crown Gall ! Username: steprose Post Number: 425 Registered: 01-2006 |
it works out to about 1/2 cup per bush. I use a handful. nope, haven't tried cock-a-doodle-do, but did use Kricket Krap once. that day I had no trouble getting a seat on the subway during rush hour! | ||
| alida ray (Altora) Bug Squisher Username: altora Post Number: 92 Registered: 10-2005 |
I haven't been to roseland, but will get there one of these days. i haven't used any fish/kelp stuff yet, i'll give it a try this year though. there are actually 5 good (IMO) nurseries close to me, one is just 2 minutes away. most of these places get their roses from canada. how much rosetone do you use per bush? have you ever used 'cock-a-doodle-do'? alida | ||
| stephen scanniello (Steprose) Supreme Crown Gall ! Username: steprose Post Number: 416 Registered: 01-2006 |
I've been experimenting with adding other organic additives to Rose tone. My first feed in April, I used Kelp Meal and Green Sand. This month I added Cotton Seed meal. small amounts. Have you ever used the Alaska product, liquid, Fish/kelp? I like to use this as a foliar spray, 2x a month. Up in your neck of the woods there are all kinds of fish fertilizers around. all good. Have you ever been to Sylvan's Nursery in Horseneck Beach? great for perennials, mostly modern type roses. For roses, I go to Roseland in Acushnet - good older moderns and some antiques. Also, they have a large inventory of organic fertilizers. Ask for Dave. | ||
| alida ray (Altora) Bug Squisher Username: altora Post Number: 91 Registered: 10-2005 |
i use rosetone, should i be using a 10-10-10 along with it? alida |