Micro-miniature roses

Blushing Mate   Pieces of Eight Rubellite

Garden Treasures from Greenheart Farms is a collection of micro-miniature roses that have been selected specifically for use in bedding plant applications. The plants can be sold as annuals or perennials in 2¼-inch pots up to 1-quart containers.

There are eight varieties in the collection. The compact, heavy-branching plants reach 12 inches tall and wide. These disease-resistant roses are self cleaning and low maintenance. They are heavy bloomers and will continue to flower throughout the season. Flowering begins in late March and continues until first frost.

Garden Treasures roses are well-suited for use as specimen plants or in mixed containers. They are hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 4b to 11.

Plants are available in 32-, 72- and 128-cell Ellepots and 4½-inch pots. Plant liners as soon as they are received into finished containers filled with a well-drained growing medium with a pH of 5.5-6.2 and soluble salts level of 1.5.

Plant liners so the crown of the plant is even with the soil level. Irrigate thoroughly with either clear water, a light rate of fertilizer (60-80 parts per million nitrogen) or a fungicide drench. The growing medium should be slightly moist before the next irrigation. Do not let the medium dry down completely, as this can cause higher alkalinity resulting in the yellowing and loss of lower leaves.

Plants can be fertilized with a complete 20-10-20 fertilizer at 120-150 ppm nitrogen continuous feed.

Grow roses in full sun for fastest flowering and highest quality. Supplemental lighting of 350-500 footcandles for 13 hours from high intensity discharge lamps is recommended for early spring crops. Optimum night temperatures are 58°F-65°F with day temperatures of 68°F-75°F. Providing the plants with adequate airflow and drainage are two key production requirements.

Plants should be pinched when flower buds start to form and the roots have reached the sides of the pots, generally around five to six weeks after planting. Subsequent pinches should be made on the same basic schedule. Pinching dictates the overall shape of the finished plants.

The final pinch depends on production location. If grown outdoors, final pinch should occur six to seven weeks before sale. If grown indoors, final pinch should be five to six weeks before sale. Do not pinch dry plants. Irrigate the plants before pinching.

Bonzi can be applied at 1 ounce per 1 gallon of water once ¼- to ½-inch of new growth appears after pinching. Applications can begin after the last pinch until buds begin to show color.

Garden Treasures roses are excellent self cleaners, with the next wave of flower buds coming behind each flush. They can be sheared by removing no more than the top third of the plants. These own-root plants bottom break to constantly rejuvenate themselves.

Short cycle production can be used for finishing 32-cell liners or 4½-inch pots in 1- to 3-gallon containers. Production time is 60-75 days. Finishing time starting with 32-cell liners or 4½-inch pots planted in 2-gallon containers is 70-80 days. Actual growing times may vary due to weather conditions.

A 128-cell liner in a 2¼-inch pot finishes in 11 weeks; in a quart container it finishes in 17 weeks. A 72-cell liner in a 4½-inch pot finishes in 17 weeks; in a 6½-inch pot in 22 weeks. A 32-cell, no pinch, in a quart container finishes in six to seven weeks; with one pinch would finish in 11 weeks. For a combination planter, depending on the other plants in the container, it would finish in six to 11 weeks. 


For more: Greenheart Farms, (805) 481-2234; www.greenheartfarms.com.