The rose is an ancient plant species that has existed in human civilisation for a long time. Various varieties of rose began to be cultivated in Central Asia about 5,000 years ago, and roses are mentioned in the writings of the philosopher Confucius. There are more than 100 varieties of rose. Shafiq Biplob, sub-assistant agriculture officer of Harinakunda upazila in Jhenaidah, explained the rose in full; the piece was written by Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman.

The rose's scientific name is Rosa, and its English name is rose. In Chinese it is called "finin". There are many varieties of rose, among them the thorny rose, China rose, Bengal Crimson, Iranian rose, European hybrid rose and Indian rose. Roses were first grown in the Kueichou area of China's Hubei province.

China and Indian roses are most common in Bangladesh, along with English, American and Dutch roses. Popular varieties include Solairi, Jumeli Princess de Monaco Revival, Ebarako, Edimichel Helina, Top Secret, Abraham Darina and Avalanche Elanka. Some large hybrid cut-flower varieties are Abhisarika, Taj Mahal, Moonstone, Blue Moon Tata Paradise and Red Love. Miniature China rose Summer Snow, cutting roses, and red, yellow, orange, pink and black roses are also popular.

Rose seedlings are usually available as budded grafts. Air-layered and cutting-grown plants are also easy to find, and seedlings of many roses, including climbers, can be obtained from various nurseries. Local variety seedlings start at Tk 20, and high-quality rose seedlings can be had for up to Tk 500.

Rose plants like sun, but not harsh sun. Pots on a roof should be kept slightly raised. Give regular, measured water, and once a month give rotted oilcake water as liquid fertiliser. Pinching and cutting are essential for roses. Key care includes cutting off flowers with their stalks as soon as they fade, removing dead leaves, regular weeding, replacing 25 per cent of the soil twice a year and turning the pots of older plants.

Serious rose diseases are dieback and apsilasis. Leaf-eating caterpillars, grasshoppers, hairy caterpillars and aphids attack rose plants, and mealybugs can be a problem as with other plants. Every year in the hot season rose growers lose many plants to mites and pests.

Both biological and chemical methods can be used to control diseases and pests. It is very important to use a miticide, a fungicide and an insecticide together twice a month at approved doses. Dissolving detergent in water at 1:1,000 once a month keeps plants fresh. Homemade organic extracts can be used to meet micronutrient shortages, and diluted rotted-vegetable water can be applied.

Roses bloom more or less all year round with regular care, though 80 per cent of the flowers open in winter. A rose plant gives flowers for at least 20 years. Roses are grown commercially as a cut flower in Bangladesh.

There is demand for roses in the domestic market all year, and it is growing. Roses can be grown commercially on rooftops too, using cut-flower varieties. Besides the beauty of the flowers, selling flowers and seedlings can bring extra income. Rose flowers are used to make fine fragrant rose water, which has many uses, and in some countries jam and jelly are made from roses. Roses contain various vitamins, including vitamin C.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.