Remember to maintain the Triforine* spraying programme once a month to prevent Black Spot. If clusters of blooms are required, only remove the large central bud. This will ensure an even opening of lateral buds, though a little later on.

Preparation of rose blooms for the show bench is too large a topic to explain here. Just contact the Horticultural Society of your choice, get details of when and where their show is to be held, obtain a copy of their show schedule, ensure you place your entries with the secretary by the due date, and then take your blooms and place them on the bench using the containers provided for your use.

Rose blooms mature from bud to full-bloom over a three-week period. When you first see colour between sepals on a bud, it will take approximately 10 days for the bloom to mature to its best stage for showing, depending on the cultivar. They develop more rapidly on the plant than when cut. Cutting slows the rate of development, but the bloom continues to enlarge.

Freshness is the main criterion for a show rose. Cut on the evening before a show will ensure optimum freshness. Cut on two evenings before the show will ensure some slight enlargement of the bloom. Cutting earlier than this risks some staleness showing on the petals, which will seriously affect your chances of success with that bloom. Old stagers suggest putting blooms in the refrigerator as a successful way to “hold” blooms. Experience has taught us not to rely on this practice.

Carry a bucket of water when cutting blooms, and place them immediately in the bucket when cut. To the water, as a preservative and feed, you might add 10 ml. White King* and a teaspoon of sugar, or purchase a preservative solution from your friendly nursery.

Good luck!

(*Registered product name.)