Rosa 'Barbados' - Hybrid Tea Rose

If you want to grow roses, find a sunny spot that gets 4-5 hours of sunlight a day. Plant them between October and April. Roses grow best in loose, permeable soil that's rich in humus. It should be slightly acidic, but any well-worked soil will do.

To plant a rose in a pot, dig a hole 10 inches deep and place blood, fish and bone in the bottom. Position the plant in the hole, cover the root ball with an inch of soil, and then water generously to remove air pockets. Water regularly for a few weeks during dry weather to help with root growth. Use rose fertiliser to help the plant flower.

Every year from February to March, prune the main stems to 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) in a mild climate, and 20-24 inches (50-60 cm) in hotter climates. Trim the lateral shoots to 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) and remove thin or weak stems. Watch out for powdery mildew, black spots, chlorosis, aphids, and scale insects.

Roses may develop unsightly spots at the end of summer, but this is a natural occurrence and doesn't harm the rose's growth.