So a banana peel is the secret? Hmm. Doubt I can eat enough in 48 hours.
Wouldn't you know, it's a record-breaking 84 degrees today, but Friday we'll have a high of 51 and a low of 28. Typical Kansas!
I'll be planting fast and furious before the rains come Monday.

I recall the recipe of adding a banana peel and a whole egg to the bottom of the hole when planting roses.

Zuzu, do you also use the egg when planting?

The price of eggs keeps soaring, Neal, and my neighbors' chicken populations have been reduced, so I'm less likely to get free eggs. Besides, I never heard a good scientific explanation for the practice, so I'm less religious about adding an egg to each and every planting hole. I only do it if I have extra eggs lying around.

I never used an egg either. I toss eggshells in the compost and use some of that.

I never bother putting anything in the planting hole. The only roots at the base of the planting hole are anchor roots. The feeder roots are near the surface, so I put all of the good stuff near the surface as I back fill.

There are a lot of right ways to grow roses ...

Ah, but the subterranean gnomes love bananas...

Zuzu mentioned on another thread that it's chilky at her house...62 degrees. Here, today, it's 50, and i think it's toi warm to plant bare root roses. I'm afraid theyll break dormancy if the weather stays warm like this. What do you all think? THey are waiting in a cool spot in the garage for now.

Cindi ...

You already know that modern roses do not go truly dormant. They have slowed down, but true dormancy is when a plant moves all of the moisture and nutrients out of the cells of the top growth and sends them down to the root zone for plant survival.

Die back ... gross generalization ... is caused by the cells holding too much moisture and freezing. Since modern roses are not generically programmed to move that moisture out of the top growth, planting them at 50 degrees is not going to harm them.

Photosynthesis in roses slows down at 70F, so they are not going to be pushing growth. In Zuzu's climate, this is not as detrimental as it is in yours because the plants will have warmer soil for a longer period of time both now and in spring and will be able to grow the feeder roots it needs. I don't know how that works in your climate.

As usual, I am back to talking about growing roots. It does make a difference in how a plant takes off and how healthy it is in the long run. However, I have never grown plants using multiflora rootstock. Maybe someone who has grown roses in your colder zone can give you better information about that part ...

Cindi, the warm, dry fall we've had here changed my mind about fall planting (otherwise I was going to have them shipped this month). I did however move a few roses a couple of weeks ago, which had me thinking that isn't much different from planting new ones and perhaps I should have gone ahead with my original plan. We started getting some rain before I moved the roses and cool temps have helped retain soil moisture.

I agree with Lyn, doesn't seem they're likely to start growing with temps in the 50s. I also think they would be better off in the ground where feeder roots can start growing.

All I've seen is rain rain rain for the past week because I'm in Vancouver visiting my daughters! The gardening withdrawal symptoms are overwhelming, so today I'm braving the Vancouver /Portland traffic to visit a nursery. The roses here are at about the same stage as mine at home, except mine aren't waterlogged. The forecast is favorable for me to plant when I finally get home later this week. Funny how the same temp can be so drastically different because of humidity. I prefer the cold dry Kansas wind! How do they ever grow roses here without sunshine???
Neal, I am so glad I did order for fall. I NEED to have outdoor work waiting when I get home.