Miguel Braganza
The SSC Class of 1976 of St. Britto High School, Mapusa, is planning a Golden Jubilee Reunion in 2026, bringing together classmates from around the world. The celebration coincides with Valentine’s Day, which also marks the start of Carnival.
The red rose, a symbol of love, now comes in various hues, including a deep burnt red that almost appears black. There’s nothing better than a homegrown rose to express affection.
A healthy rose bush, much like a generous person, thrives with an open heart. When a bud sprouts and grows into a shoot, it is pruned above the third or fourth leaf, encouraging multiple side shoots from the buds in the leaf axils. These side shoots are similarly pruned to shape the primary structure of the bush. Any inward-growing shoots are removed, creating an open, cone-like form that allows sunlight to reach the leaves from both the inside and outside.
As you prepare to say “I love you” with a rose, remember the romantic song Roses love sunshine, violets love dew. Commercial rose growers prune their bushes between December 26 and 30 to ensure peak flowering by Valentine’s Day on February 14. In temperate regions, pruning happens even earlier—before Christmas—since plant growth slows in colder temperatures. Heating greenhouses is also costly, especially now, with the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia driving up natural gas prices across Europe.
Unlike mango or cashew trees, the so-called ‘grafted’ rose is actually propagated through budding. A single bud of the desired rose variety is cut and removed with the base of its leaf. A T-shaped cut is made on the stem of a rooted wild rose cutting, where the bud is inserted by opening the flaps. This is then wrapped with grafting tape. The ‘budling’ is nurtured in a polybag or pot until it sprouts and is ready for planting or sale.
Any shoots emerging from the wild rootstock must be ruthlessly removed; otherwise, they will overpower the desired rose variety. Rootstock shoots, being wild, grow more vigorously. Dead branches and weak ‘water sprouts’, which won’t yield roses, should also be pruned. To promote healthy growth, add a handful of compost, a teaspoon of muriate of potash, and one peg measure (or two tablespoons, about 30 ml) of Panchagavya. Flower buds will appear on the new reddish shoots within a month, and blooms will follow in 45 to 50 days.
