Click here for the latest organic rose program information.
Yes, you can grow organic roses – which is good since they are one of the best medicinal and culinary herbs in the world. When they are located with toxic pesticides and other chemicals, that use is gone or at least it should be. For best results with roses, here’s the ultimate program:
SELECTION: Choose adapted roses such as antiques, Austins, and well proven hybrids.
PLANTING: Prepare beds by mixing the following into existing soil to form a raised bed: 6” compost, ½” – 1” lava sand. ¼ - ½” Texas greensand, 20 lbs of alfalfa meal, 20 lbs cottonseed meal, 40 lbs of soft rock phosphate, 20 lbs of Sul-Po-Mag, 5 lbs of sulfur per 1,000 sq. ft. and 5 lbs of sugar per 1,000 sq. ft.
Soak the bare roots or rootball in water with 1 tablespoon of seaweed per gallon and 1 tablespoon of natural apple cider vinegar or biostimulant. Settle soil around plants.
MULCHING: After planting, cover all the soil in the beds with 1” of aged pecan shells followed by 2-3” of shredded hardwood bark or other coarse-textured mulch. Do not pile the mulch up on the stems of the roses.
WATERING: If possible, save and use rainwater. If not, add 1 tablespoon of natural apple cider vinegar per gallon of water. If all that fails, just use tap water but don’t over-water. Avoid salty well water.
FERTILIZING PROGRAM
Round #1 February 1-15 – 100% organic fertilizer @ 20 lbs/1,000 sq. ft. (i.e. Garden-Ville, GreenSense, Maestro-Gro, Sustane, natural meals or manure compost, lava sand at 80 lbs/1,000 sq. ft. and sugar at 5 lbs/1,000 sq. ft.
Round #2 June 1-15 – 100% organic fertilizer @ 20 lbs/1,000 sq. ft., Texas greensand @ 80 lbs/1,000 sq. ft.
Round #3 September 15-30 – 100% organic fertilizer @ 20 lbs/1,000 sq. ft., Sul-Po-Mag @ 20 lbs/1,000 sq. ft.
SPRAY PROGRAM
Compost tea Label directions or if homemade 1 cup/gallon of water
Blackstrap Molasses 2 tablespoons/gallon
Seaweed 2 tablespoons/gallon
Natural apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon/gallon(Optional ingredients)
Fish emulsion 2-3 tablespoons per gallon (may not need when using compost tea)
Garlic tea 1 cup/gallon or label directions
Baking soda 1 rounded tablespoon/gallon
Liquid biostimulants per label (Agrispon, AgriGro, Medina, Bioform or similar product)SPRAY SCHEDULE:
1st spraying at pink bud in the Spring.
Additional sprayings as necessary. For best results, spray at least once a month.Helpful Links
Houston Rose Society
Web site: 'http://www.houstonrose.org'Howard Garrett
The Dirt Doctor with The Natural Way on News/Talk 820 WBAP – Sat. 11-noon, Sun. 8-noon
P.O. Box 140650, Dallas, TX 75214
817-695-0817
Web site: 'http://www.wbap.com'
E-mail: 'hgarrett@wbap.com'
Dirt Doctor’s Ground Crew: 'http://www.dirtdoctor.com'
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