21 ....make that 22 Bare root roses- prepping for an overnight soak

If you have never read my blog before this day, I want you to know I am a beginner.  (People who do read it, are probably tired of seeing that but I put up detailed pictures so I don't want to make it seem like I know what I am doing).   This is my first experience with bare roots (well, I have three weeks experience)  . So the details described is what I did, it my be wrong.  If this is a new post, pay attention to the comments.  If you are reading this is a long past archive, search for more recent posts to see if this work. 

 This a continuation of yesterday. I bought 21 bare root roses.   They averaged $6.00 a plant .  These roses will cost me $17.00 on average per plant if I wait longer in the season.  So it was much more economical and a great rationalization  to buy many up front.

The following is a step by step on how I am going to prepare them for soaking overnight and planting tomorrow.  I do not know how long they can stay in the buckets, but it's a good assumption...not forever.

This was huge mass of bare roots I just purchased yesterday.

Some of the  bare roots are in peat pot, in a bag.

I discovered when you purchase bare roots, you can peel off the sticker telling what it is.

Next, I  put the sticker on the bucket I am soaking.  When you make large diverse purchases, it's important to know which is which, I have a bad habit of liking different kinds of colors and unique roses.  The rose garden these are going in I am calling my "personal garden."  Meaning if you are just driving up to our house, you won't see it because it's in the back and that is what area of the property I see most.

All the bare roots  that I have purchased, so far is tied  by a twist tie, so I untwist the cord off.  PS, if you don't want to fool with twisting it, wire cutters work well.  Also, rust shows how "fresh" the plant is....at least, that is what I think.

Next, I add epsom salt to the bucket.  The instructions read 1/2 cup per gallon, that you read about in the link.. I was more conservative and  added, less thant that, oftemtime a prink.

I am very guilty of trying to save packaging at the expense of the plant.  Like wanting to save the other stickers of this rose, or trying to save a pot at the expense of the plant in the pot....so I gently rip the plastic off.  If you see how the roots look under this, you would learn to be careful how tightly you grasp the bare roots especially at the but union...it not eggshell but you could do some damage I bet.

Now when you take off the packaging you will probably find brown paper and saw dust.  For the record, most of these bare roots have wax on them.  I remember reading about that and I don't remember the significance.  I will look it up but I think it's to stop them from growing and I suppose the wax comes off in the sun or heat?  Will look that up.

Next, you will see a bunch of saw dust.  Notice I am wearing a glove.  Some roses could be used as weapons...like the JFK roses I purchased...so wear gloves...promise you want to.

I shook off the saw dust to expose the roots.

WOOHOOOOO!!!    JACKPOT....there were two bear root roses in one package of these Gypsy.....man, my lucky day!!!!  Nope, I inspected, these two grafts, and if they arent, they are now.

Put the plant in the bucket with the epsom salt at the bottom.

Add water up the bud union. but not over ...I just wanted to make sure the roots were all able to soak.

I grouped the same plants, like these three climbing golden showers in the same bucket, with a sticker on it.

Bare roots soaking....notice the sticker on the bucket...this is very important.  When you purchase large amounts of bare roots,.  it's important know which is which

Some of bare roots came in peat pots,  I don't have enough sunlight hours to prep the site.  All the plants are being put in the garage evening because it was wanting to dip down into the thirties tonight.  I could put them in the greenhouse but the garage is more stable.  I feel like this is stressful enough to them that I don't want to add temperature swings.  The plants that in peat pots I punctured a hole in the plastic.

The soil seemed dry.  Unlike the bags, the peat pots plants are in soil.   But anyway, there were dry so I put some water through the hole.

The Next Morning............

Everyone looked happy.....I could now tell the differences in the foliage...and now understand what they mean by dull leaves or leathery leaves.

These are the climbing golden showers.  Their leaves really do look like leather.

I think this is Tiffany.  Yes, the bucket is dirty looking..it had clay in it before...I hosed it out I don't think clay will hurt and if it does...I have bigger probs.  Anyway, these leaves are more matted looking.

The plants looked very happy this morning.  I know I am personifying them...but I don't care....

I found this website, and I like the instructions...I may do half the amounts recommended....because I'm skiddish and think its better to do too little than too much.

Bare root instructions...

Sigh, reading the instructions it mentions that the mushroom compost is probably a bad idea because it's fresh...exchanging it for hen manure.....it's better to get it right the first time.

Just hope the bare roots I planted so far in it won't be hurt.  

8:17 am.  Went to co-op to exchange the mushroom for hen.  The lady, Dina, there I seek for advice almost weekly.  When I explained to her what I was about to do, and that the mushroom compost might burn the plants....she said "BULL****"  She isn't proned to curse but she was vehement.  She said, dig your hole, mix in the mushroom compost until you get the right texture and plant your plant.  Blood meal will burn your plant.  I knew that blood meal could and I, honestly didn't want to dig that big of a hole...so I am going to do as she suggested.  I drove back with the mushroom compost in my trunk.  Sore from all the work I had done, and my body complaining about all the work I was gonna do, but I will dig a big hole, mix in compost and good soil, and then water.  It just seemed easier.  Maybe I am being lazy, but it's simple..