Re: Knockout roses and overwintering

**b*@mchsi.com (Cathy Wilkinson Barash)**

Hi Andrew, 

Wow, the Hamptons have sure changed since I left Long Island 11 years ago ;-)
Seriously, where is this colder, higher altitude garden? 

KnockOut wasn't around when I was on LI, but I successfully grew the Flower Carpet (loved the original pink the best - no fragrance, but great flavor) in sun, shade, sand, clay - you name it - on LI. Japanese beetles for whatever reason weren't attracted to it and it didn't get blackspot.  And it moved with me to Iowa and thrived (Zone 5 instead of 7). I tried the Original KnockOut, but it died two years in a row (different plants). Pink KnockOut fared somewhat better, but got blackspot. No Japanese beetles yet in my neighborhood (any in Iowa probably drowned in the last week), so I can't judge that. My yellow Flower Carpets are now thriving (after a number of years in my garden) across the street in partial shade. A couple of leaves might get blackspot, but that's it.  I don;t feed much, just keep renewing the compost mulch.  And no winter protection.

So, I haven't been bowled over by any KnockOuts, but am enamored of Flower Carpet (pink and yellow).

Cheers,
Cathy

Cathy Wilkinson Barash
Author, Photographer, Editor, Speaker, Consultant
Edible Flowers from Garden to Palate 
753 17th St. 
Des Moines, IA 50314
bloominggourmet@mchsi.com
phone: 515-282-5172
fax: 515-243-5353

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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 11:39:20 EDT
From: Hamptongar@aol.com
Subject: Re: [GWL] question about KnockOut roses and overwintering
To: gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
Message-ID: <cca.31f7bf23.358691a8@aol.com>
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Having not planted any roses in my own garden for more than 20 years I was  
tempted to try a new variety at our zone 5 garden (2000 feet high and 140 avg.  
inches of snow) where the Japanese Beetles and deer seem to be manageable.   
I queried the list a few years ago and the consensus was to try a Knockout  
rose...no scent but virtually disease and insect free.  I planted Radrazz  in 
the spring of 2006 and while I only got a couple of flowers I did get some  
vegetative growth and thought I was well on my way.  Last year it showed  now 
signs of breaking dormancy until late June and finally flowered in early  August 
but I'd by no means call it a robust plant.  It seems to have over  wintered 
much better this year (no protection other than what we got from the  snow) and 
it's about two feet tall now with more than a dozen buds.  Unlike  last year 
I've decided to feed it a bit as our soil is mostly clay and rock with  meager 
amounts of organic matter...and yes, I did dig deep and wide adding  plenty of 
compost and humus at planting.  

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