Mini roses

[eirish]

I've got a couple of mini roses (the supermarket sort) that I'd like to plant out in the garden. Directions I've read say to cut them back hard when they're finished flowering. The trouble is, the one that's finished has started putting on lots of nice new growth and I'm hesitant to whack all that off. Would it be better to leave or prune at this point? Also, when could I put them out in the cold frame to start hardening off?

[Aberdeenplotter]

I would prune as directed. As for hardening off, do it in stages so as not to stress the plant. Outside day time first of all and in at night and then when this cold spell passes, leave out at night as well for a few days and then plant.

[Two_Sheds]

You start hardening off about a fortnight before your last frost date. And you do it for 7-10 days.

I've planted out those patio roses, but they never really do all that well, they tend to get quite sprawling and straggly, even with pruning.

If you don't want to prune it, then don't.

[eirish]

Thanks, both of you. So I should harden the roses off like half-hardy plants even though they're hardy perennials, presumably since they've been forced and growing indoors?

I know very little about pruning and nowt whatsoever about roses, so I'm not sure what I should be trying to achieve.

[Two_Sheds]

So I should harden the roses off ... even though they're hardy perennials, presumably since they've been forced and growing indoors?

Exactly.
Imagine how you would feel if someone plucked you out of your warm bed and plonked you in the garden, nekkid.

It's only for a week, it's better than taking the chance of a loss, right?

Rose pruning: patio and miniature roses / Royal Horticultural Society

[eirish]

I'm not questioning the why or whether of hardening off, just the when. Didn't know whether they needed to wait to be planted out until after the last frost date or not.

Thanks for the pruning link. I've no idea if they'll do well or not but I thought I'd give 'em a chance.

[Two_Sheds]

So I should harden the roses off ...?

I'm not questioning the why or whether of hardening off

Well, you were. There was a question mark and everything

[eirish]

Also, when could I put them out in the cold frame to start hardening off?

So I should harden the roses off like half-hardy plants even though they're hardy perennials, presumably since they've been forced and growing indoors?

The trouble with typing is that intended emphasis sometimes gets lost.

[Two_Sheds]

I'm not even sure what it is we're arguing about here?

[eirish]

Roses? I think?