Rose Abraham Derby

Rose Abraham Darby is a luxurious, sophisticated culture that is highly regarded by gardeners around the world. It is distinguished by an early onset of flowering, a long budding cycle, and an excellent color, depending on the climate and temperature regime of cultivation. With the right care, the variety can well become a jewel in the collection in the most manicured gardens and greenhouses.

The variety was obtained by the famous British breeder David Austin in 1985. He managed to preserve the classic cupped shape of the old English rose, giving its petals an unusual color. Abraham Derby is considered a unique subspecies, since 2 modern varieties were used in breeding: the climbing Aloha and the Yellow Cushion floribunda. It was originally named AUScot, which was later changed.

The variety belongs to the group of English roses, it is not officially registered in Russia. The bushes are vigorous, 120-150 cm high and up to 140 cm in diameter. Their shape is round, high density. Leaves are medium in size, dark green, shiny. A perennial bush suitable for standard cultivation.

The flowers of this variety are pink, with a delicate apricot note and a yellow base of petals. There is no variegation in color. Low-flowered inflorescences, 1-3 buds per stem. The corollas themselves are square, large, 9-11 cm in diameter, densely double. The number of petals in each reaches 140.

Abraham Derby roses have a strong scent. It is defined as fruity, with buttery notes.

This variety has quite a few advantages. It is perfectly adapted to heat, does not fade at temperatures above +35 degrees. Flowering waves replace each other throughout the warm season, which is quite unusual for a large-flowered English rose. Also Abraham Derby is praised for:

• proportionality and harmony;
• high growth rate;
• variety of shades of petals, depending on the weather;
• ability to form flower brushes.

The main disadvantage of the variety is considered to be weak resistance to rain and wind. With prolonged precipitation, the buds rot until they open. Also, roses Abraham Derby must be shaped, tied to supports.

Rose Abraham Derby is a continuously flowering culture. It forms buds from June to late autumn.

The variety is suitable for cutting. Most often it is grown as a standard form. When planted in groups, it forms magnificent hedges, arches and arbors. In single plantings, it is very decorative, but prone to fading of flowers. In color and size, it is ideal for use in the center of a composition in a flower bed.

The variety is recommended for growing in a temperate climatic zone. It is successfully cultivated in Great Britain and other European countries, in the USA. In Russia, it is planted in open ground or in greenhouses.

The bushes are planted in spring and autumn, preparing loose, humus-rich soil for them. The optimal distance between adjacent plants is 0.5 or 1 m.The variety is suitable for open or slightly shaded areas protected from drafts, illuminated most of the day. For better adaptation to the cold, autumn planting is considered preferable.

The bushes are placed in a hole with a diameter of about 70 cm, filled 2/3 with a mixture of peat, turf, sand and compost. The roots of the seedlings are pre-refreshed, soaked in water and a disinfecting solution. The bottom of the hole is drained under a layer of soil mixture. The seedling is buried 5-6 cm.

Abraham Derby is a strain that responds well to quality care. Of course, even with minimal care, it has a chance of blooming. But plants grow best in a carefully fertilized and moderately humid environment, protected from the negative influence of external factors. The earth around is periodically loosened.

This rose needs regular feeding 4-5 times during the year. They begin to give fertilizers in April, in the form of ready-made complexes, with the beginning of budding they use superphosphate, put organic matter before winter. Watering is done 1 to 3 times a week. Under each bush, 10-20 liters of water are added at a time. They stop irrigation in mid-autumn.

Depending on the choice of shape, the bushes can be cut according to different patterns. For sanitary purposes, such events for Abraham Derby are carried out in spring and autumn, stimulating abundant flowering. If the variety is grown as a climbing or climber, then in the first 3-4 years only lateral shoots are removed from it, leaving the central stem unchanged. For the shape of a spreading shrub, remove all unproductive parts, as well as 1/3 of the length from all branches.

The variety is frost-resistant, can withstand temperatures as low as -25 degrees. Belongs to zone 5 for this indicator in the USDA classification. Requires shelter in temperate and colder climates. Before the onset of cold weather, the bush is freed from foliage, the base is spud with a layer of mulch, the shoots are bent to the ground on a bed of dry straw or sawdust, spruce branches. A layer of agrofibre is laid on top.

This rose variety is highly resistant to black spot and powdery mildew. It has an average tolerance to rust, it can be affected by this ailment under unfavorable conditions. Preventive treatment is recommended in spring and autumn. Among the pests on the rose, aphids, spider mites, slobbering pennits, sawflies can appear.

New seedlings are obtained vegetatively. It is possible to divide the bush or cut the cuttings for rooting.

According to gardeners, the Abraham Derby variety can be grown even by those people who have never dealt with roses before. It is unpretentious, when planted in a self-rooted culture, it grows quickly. Particular delight is caused by the delicate peach color of the buds, gradually changing to pink without the bright sun. It is for her sake that this variety of English roses is chosen by the most discerning collectors for their gardens.

Abraham Derby, according to summer residents, is quite successfully acclimatized in Russia. In regions with cold spring months, flowering times may shift slightly. But plants successfully cope with most cultural diseases, except that they show sensitivity to rust. Pests on them also appear extremely rarely.

The aroma of flowers by gardeners for the most part is estimated as strawberry, rich, but without unnecessary sweetness, dense and thick. And their shape is called old-fashioned, but cute, reminiscent of ice cream balls or pom-poms. Summer residents also call the entry of the variety into bloom in the first year as a big plus.

There are also disadvantages. Growers note the need to prune weak buds to stimulate the development of stronger ones. Also mentioned is a noticeable reduction in the size of the corollas in extreme heat without shading. Application of leaf dressing or spraying from pests can also become a problem in care. Without a sticky component in the composition, they are washed off the plant at the first rain.