Valentine’s Day has gone but there is still time to say it with flowers!

Written by Kris Collins / Published on February 17, 2012

If you forgot Valentine’s Day, or your partner was less than impressed with that bunch of forecourt flowers, I’ve got the perfect solution to get you back in their good books this weekend – plant a rose.

My wife got a small bouquet on Tuesday, but I’ve gone for double points this week by planting a small rose with a suitably lovey-dovey cultivar name, in a container, for pride of place on the patio this summer.

For marking Valentine’s Day you have to go for a red variety, and what better name than ‘Red Romance’ for such an occasion.
This new variety is one of a range of dwarf floribundas from Unwins, offering full-sized flowers on small bushes, just the right size for a patio container. My wife and I are looking forward to a show of blooms from it all summer long.

I’ve used a large, deep terracotta pot, which holds around half a bag of peat-free West+ Light & Easy compost. This lightweight blend includes enough feed to last for four months, but looking to get the most of our new rose, I’ve also added a few handfuls of Westland Rose Food. This new feed is similar in appearance to chicken manure pellets but contains both fast acting and naturally slow release nutrients as well as high levels of horse manure – a rose’s favourite feed!

If you’re looking to do similar this weekend, don’t forget a bit of ribbon as a pot dressing, this little touch adds a big difference to your living gift.