Did you know you can propagate roses by sticking them into potatoes? This useful if you are looking to expand your rose garden on a budget. Propagating roses by cuttings is easy. Before planting rose cuttings, push the bottom end into a small potato, which keeps the cuttings moist as they develop roots. Do you want try it?
Directions
- Dig a trench 6in (15cm) deep; place an inch or two of sharp sand in the bottom.
- Choose a stem – about the thickness of a pencil – from the rose you wish to propagate.
- The cutting should be about 9in (23cm) long. Cut just below a bud at the base.
- Insert each cutting so that it is two-thirds buried, making sure that its base is well into the sharp sand. Firm the sand around the base, to exclude as much air as possible. Cuttings should be set about 6in (15cm) apart.
- Replace soil into the trench and firm it in place; don’t damage the cuttings as you do this. Keep the cuttings watered throughout summer. By November they should have rooted well and be ready for transplanting.
