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My wife and I have spent the summers in Downeast Maine for
many years. While we grow several Maine hardy roses, we still miss the
tea roses we had grown for many years in the South. I am told that some
have had moderate luck growing hybred tea roses in our part of Maine. I
would appreciate any information you might have regarding such a
planting adventure.
Thanks, Sam Williams |
| 5/23/06 Sam, You can keep Hybrid Tea roses alive in Maine for more than a couple of years with difficulty. You can grow them in large containers and shelter them inside in a room that does not become exceedingly cold, such as a basement or attached garage, during the winter, or as I do, put them in pots and bury them under a compost pile during the winter. They can handle freezing, but not 20 below cold weather, and winds tend to dry them out and kill them. I have had very little success growing Hybrid Tea roses for more than three years at a time in the ground even though I bury the bud union and mound them each winter.
Jerry Cinnamon |
| 5/23/06 Hello Sam, While I will not tell you growing hybrid tea roses in Maine is an easy thing, I assure you it CAN be done. One way is to grow them in very large pots, 10 gallon size, with a good potting mix. When it is cold, and the ground is frozen, move your potted roses into a garage or out building for the winter. Be sure they are kept watered right up to freezing. They are pruned some before they go into the garage. We have a member that grows all of his tea roses, as well as some floribunda and grandifloras this way, and I can truthfully say he has wonderful roses. His name is Clarence Rhodes and he lives on Capisic St. in Portland. If you live in that area, Clarence would gladly tell you how he grows his roses and enjoys showing them to interested rosarians. To grow them in the ground, you will need to plant the graft 4" below the soil, and they will need as much winter protection as you can give them. If you have a south facing spot near the house, close to the foundation, you will have the best chance for success. You will still need to protect them, the main killer of roses is the very cold bitter wind. It will dry out those canes in no time. Mulch over the base of the plant and burlap around it from bottom to top will give you the best results. The more of the plant you protect, the more of the plant will survive. If your canes are tall, cut them back part way so they will not whip around in the wind. That can loosen the plant in the ground. Cover the rose as much as you can, whatever is above the covering will die back. That is alright, what is beneath the soil, mulch, etc. you have at the base of the plant should live. If you have any questions please feel free to email us. Good luck,
Joan Gotlibson |
