SIR JOHN BETJEMAN ROSE

I couldn't help it.  Today I went to Betty's in Harlow Carr for lunch and the cafe is right where the Royal Horticultural Centre is.  As anyone who reads my posts will now know, I am mad about roses.  I want to grow some in tubs.  Around my fencing I have purposely planted roses that are not too strong in colour (so that they are like a subtle background on a painting) and I have a few white or cream ones in my border.  What I need now is a striking but complementary contrast and so, along with the recent patio roses, I have bought myself another David Austin rose, an English rose called Sir John Betjeman.  It only grows to about 2 1/2 ft - 3 ft, it says on the label, and I am hoping it will fare well in a tub.  I do realise that, although I have potted it into the largest tub I have, which is only about 15 inches deep, it will have to go into a bigger one at some point quite soon, not only to allow for the deep roots but so that the wind cannot knock it over so easily.  I think I shall have to choose a square tub to help wind resistance.   Roses don't really like to be grown in tubs unless they are patio roses or specially developed climbing roses, which can cope with being grown in containers.

Sir John Betjeman

Although it only has a light fragrance, apparently Sir John Betjeman makes up for it because as the flowers age they deepen in colour rather than fade away.  It will be interesting to see this.  Like all, as far as I know, David Austin roses it is a repeat flowerer and apparently very floriferous.  Perfect.

I am sure I have mentioned this before, but it is a really good idea to have white or almost white flowers in your garden.  They light up like little lanterns at dusk when lack of light causes colours to fade to grey.

http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/Showrose.asp?Showr=5088 - Sir John Betjeman rose

http://www.davidaustinroses.com/english/Advanced.asp?PageId=2018 - Roses for containers