Crop 199 Picture Newsletter by andyvancleve

VOL 01 NOVEMBER 15, 2008. 6 Pictures.

I usually pot threesomes in spring but I have several hundred one gallon potted roses that have to be transplanted so I'm doing it now. In the center aisle of the cold frame I'm lining up all the past threesomes with the new ones while the one gallons are in the boxes on each side. I start out by putting all those of the same variety in a row. When the row gets to long............

I gather 3 together. Showing the wrong pH and yellowing caused by nitrogen deficiency these symptoms can all be explained away by the uncommon dryness of the soil in each pot. Mildew is also associated with uneven moisture. When these root systems get to a certain size its difficult to keep them moist enough in the small pot without overwatering.

First I label the side of the pot with the variety number, the variety name, how many cuttings there are in the pot and the year following that in which they were originally taken as cuttings. Then popping each plant carefully out of its one gallon pot I gently massage the root ball to remove excess soil from the outside.

Inserting them together into a 3 gallon pot I add more promix.

Then I take it to the fertilizing station and side dress with dehydrated manure, then water thoroughly.

Later the newly potted threesome is added to the group already in the cold frame.

We grow plants to sell at our plant sale. Read my notes on the zone hardiness numbers I use. Do we do mail order? Check my picture-newsletter Want to purchase? email me.