Miracle on the Hudson: Astounding Color & Disease Resistance

Erin Smith

Certified Roses has introduced Miracle on the Hudson, an award-winning, bright red shrub rose bred by Robert Neil Rippetoe. Winner of the 2014 Biltmore International Rose Trials, “Miracle” was awarded the George & Edith Vanderbilt Award for Most Outstanding Rose. It combines beautiful dark, glossy green foliage with deep velvet red blooms and continues to produce blooms from early spring until frost. Buds are constantly forming, even without trimming. This Zone 5 to 10 evergreen rose is mannerly and compact.

Miracle on the Hudson rose can be grown from liners or field-grown bareroot plants.

Media—Composted pine bark-based media is best. Incorporating peat moss or low saline coconut coir is suggested when potting liners. Bareroot material doesn’t require peat moss or coir incorporation; however, it will improve the water-holding capacity of the media. Incorporating a 3-1-2 fertilizer, along with good phosphate and lime source, is important for good root development. With liner-grown containers, it’s good practice to feed with 20-10-20 at 250 ppm on a weekly basis. Field-grown product does not require supplemental liquid feed to produce a high-quality plant. A pH range of 5.5 to 6.2 is desirable. Roses are not excessive feeders—an EC of 0.9 to 1.2 is acceptable.

Container size—This rose does well in 1- to 3-gal. containers. Liners would be better-suited for 1 or 2 gal. only. Field-grown bareroot product will do a great job in any size container.

Potting—It’s important not to bury the crown of the rose. It’s equally important not to leave roots exposed both for proper anchorage for the plant and the look of the finished product.

Grow time—1 or 2 gal. from a pinched liner—pinch 4 weeks into grow time and do another pinch 4 weeks after that. Plants will take another 4 to 6 weeks from their 8-week pinch to be ready for shipping. Bareroot product can also be used for 1- or 2-gal. containers. This will eliminate the need for pinching and will produce a nice, full plant in 8 to 10 weeks depending upon your growing temperature and light intensity.

Grade 1 field-grown bareroot product is the best choice for 3-gal. containers. Again, use of field-grown product eliminates the need for pinching. A full plant can be produced in 8 to 10 weeks.

Spacing is important to avoid “shading” out the lower leaves. Pots should be on 12- to 14-in. centers at least. Better spacing produces higher finish quality.

Light intensity—Full sun is best for production of roses. Shade is only necessary for containers when temperatures are in the mid 80s or higher to help manage stress. Full sun positioning in the garden is preferred.

Temperature—Roses continue to grow at temperatures ranging from 52 to 85F (11 to 29C). Production temperature can be used to manage the speed of the crop to some degree if necessary. Damage will not normally occur as long as containers are held above freezing.

Irrigation—It’s very important to avoid drying roses out as bareroot product. Roses are super sensitive to drought. Watering deeply for the first few irrigations is best. It’s important to keep the humidity fairly constant until the roses form leaves. After leaves have formed and roots begin to grow, it’s good practice to allow the media to dry on the surface so that roots will grow deep into the media.

Diseases & Pests—Miracle on the Hudson has proven to be extremely resistant to most rose diseases, such as blackspot and cercospora.

For additional information about Miracle on the Hudson or Certified Roses’ new introductions, call (800) 527-8708 or visit www.certifiedrose.com. GT

Erin Smith is the Growing Manager for Certified Roses.