Grow The Roses You Love : The Hybrid Teas
The Hybrid Teas have been popular since time immemorial but are known to be difficult to grow in home gardens. You can grow the roses you have always admired if you set your mind to it. Hybrid teas are prone to diseases so you will have to ensure adequate space between each plant and keep a watchful eye on them. Although hybrid teas grow well in cold climates, you need to check their suitability with your climate zones as some cannot tolerate temperatures less than -12 degrees; some bud unions tend to get damaged or just die.
The first hybrid tea was La France created in 1867 by a French gardener. Hybrid teas make perfect cut flowers because of the single rose bloom at the end of a perfectly formed long stem. The bush grows to a height of 6 ft. and each bloom is 3-5 inches wide. Most hybrid teas are not very fragrant. The hybrid teas are a cross of hybrid perpetuals and old tea roses. The rose has more than 60 petals and bloom in all colors except blue.
If your summers are very humid, select mildew-resistant varieties. Alternatively, if your summers are very dry, choose heat-tolerant varieties with strong and vigorous roots. Hybrid teas grow well in slightly acidic soil with pH 6.0 to 6.5.
Dig a deep hole and create a soil mound at the bottom of the hole. Drape the roots over the mound and fill the hole half way with soil and water to remove all air pockets. Then mulch the rest of the hole. Take care to maintain a gap between the plant and the mulch. Water deeply. Plant the bud union 1-2 inches above the soil in warm climates and 1-2 inches below the soil in cold climates. Once you are done with planting, prune the top of the bush.
Check the soil for moisture regularly by dipping your finger 3 inches into the soil; if it comes out dry, you need to water. If the leaves turn yellow and exhibit green veins, you need to add an iron supplement to your soil. Also check the soil for magnesium content and if it is lacking, add a quarter to half cup of Epsom salts. This helps in brightening the color of the blooms and encourages growth of flowering canes. Mulching in early spring helps the soil retain moisture keeping the roots cool. Hybrid teas need to be fed weekly, or at least once in two weeks, with a good well-balanced organic fertilizer. Stop fertilizing about a month and a half prior to onset of frost.
Here are some beautiful hybrid teas for your garden:
Peace is bright yellow with a fruity but mild scent; has large, double blossoms and prefers cooler summers. Extra care needed as it is susceptible to black spot.
Barbara Bush has a moderate damask fragrance with a coral pink and ivory color. It is bushy and well-rounded and grows to a height of 4-5 ft.
Black Magic Rose is deep dark red in color with black shades. It is extra long stemmed with a subtle sweet scent and is 5.5 ft tall.
Pristine Rose a creamy white lightly fragrant rose grows upright to a height of 4-6 ft. and spreads wide.
Paradise Rose has a fruity scent with silvery lavender blooms with red edges. It grows upright to a maximum of 5 ft.
With lots of care and a little extra effort, you can grow the roses that the world admires in your very own garden.
Get the #1 Secret to successful rose gardening
