UK gardeners are being encouraged to try a unique £1.35 trick to multiply their rose stocks for an abundant Spring display.
During the colder months, many green-thumbed enthusiasts forget to keep an eye on their roses as they withstand harsh weather conditions.
As a result, the shrubs often fall victim to different types of disease and damage when subjected to wet and cold weather conditions.
If you’re keen on the idea of a vibrant and colourful display of roses next spring, experts encourage you to introduce potatoes to your soil.
Using potatoes as a root home may give rose cutting a better chance of developing healthy roots and growing into beautiful new plants.
Gardening experts at Amaze Vege Garden explained that the high water content of spuds is ideal for helping roses thrive.
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What’s more, the hack will only set gardeners back approximately £1.35, which is the average price for a bag of potatoes according to the Office for National Statistics.
How to use potatoes for healthier rose shrubs
Rose cuttings can be taken from the current year’s new stems, with November the best month to take hardwood cuttings.
Liz Zorab, gardening expert at Byther Farm, explained on her YouTube channel that using rose cuttings is the best way to “increase [a] stock of roses”.
To grow a rose in a potato, experts at Amaze Vege Garden say you’ll need a stem that is at least 200mm long. Trim off the flowers and the leaves stick the stem into half a potato and plant it in the ground.
Gardeners are advised to be patient, as the stem will need to grow new roots from scratch, and this process can take between five to six weeks.
The experts explained: “Having a good base that naturally provides all the nutrients and moisture needed for the new plant to grow means you won’t have to work as hard to ensure the rose will grow.
“This is often the only way to grow a new rose as the environment might be too tough for new stems to grow naturally.”
The theory behind the trick is that the potatoes keep the rose cutting moist and provide the plant with the nutrients it needs to thrive.
“As the plant grows the potato will break down naturally, nourishing the soil,” add gardening experts at Better Homes and Gardens.
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