"Dan" wrote in message
...
I would like to go all organic this year with my roses. I planted a
"Princess Diana" hybrid tea, and moved two three year old "Veteran's
Honor" hybrid teas to a raised bed that I prepared using about half
existing
black and white clay soil,(yuk),the other half leaves, bagged manure and
compost tilled in. The bed is about 2 feet deep and gets a good 8+ hours
sun a day.
The plan is to foliar feed with
seaweed extract and
compost tea with a bit of garlic mixed in every week during the growing
season. Questions are - Will foliar feeding with these three ingredients
help keep insects and disease under control or is there something else
to add? What organic fertilizer should I use to fertilize the first
time in March,and
after first flush to give them the boost they need?

Dan J.
Zone 7b
Dallas TX

Your program will make little difference in the rose succumbing to black
spot. Chemical controls provide the only consistant control of that fungal
pest for rosarians in humid climates because most choose to grow roses that
are unsuited to being grown without that life support. Hybrid tea roses are
very prone to black spot in any part of the US that has a significant
humidity level. That includes East Texas. Organic remedies work best in a
less high pressure disease environment of less humidity or a shorter growing
season. They are virtually ineffective against black spot in a warm and
humid environment with a long growing season. If you want to grow roses
organically in your garden, then you had best choose roses that will not
need spraying in order to survive. China, tea, and noisette roses will
provide season long blooms and are far more resistant to disease than are
the modern hybrid teas, and they are incredibly suited to Southern gardens.
Take a look at Chamblee's www.chambleeroses.com/ or Antique Rose Emporium
www.antiqueroseemporium.com/ for roses in each of these categories.

The most important determinant to garden success is to choose plants that
are suited to the climate. Growing hybrid teas is an exercise in
frustration unless you are willing to regularly spray them.(Excepting all
those who live in dry air environments and don't also have problems with
mildew.)

Sunflower
MS 7b