“Some 25 years ago, we invented international showcases,” says John Pouw of Viking Roses. “Today, rose producers do not buy varieties in a show area, but after testing extensively at their own farms. However, I am regularly asked for ‘a look in the kitchen’ of the breeding of Rosa and Harley Eskelund. Their recipe book is in Denmark and after several selection rounds, they send their codes to the Viking trial area at J&K Rosa in Berkel en Rodenrijs, The Netherlands.”
Inger Kristine arranging Rosa Loves Me Inger Kristine
400 varieties tested per year
Pouw explains that J&K Rosa is the Viking ‘kitchen’ where around 400 varieties are tested on a yearly basis. “Rosa Eskelund has been breeding pot roses and garden roses for several decades, and cut roses for around 20 years. I have been selecting them for about 10 years now. This collaboration has resulted in many introductions, such as Rosa Loves Me Just a Little Bit More, Rosa Loves Me Inger Kristine, Rosa Loves Me with Heart and Soul, Rosa Loves Me Two Times, and Rosa Loves Me I Am Grateful. And very recently, Koen Meewissen from J&K Rosa has planted Rosa Loves Me With Fatal Attraction.”
Rosa Loves Me With Fatal Attraction
“Pandemic boosted breeding”
According to Pouw, the pandemic has boosted Rosa Eskelund’s breeding. “Not having been able to travel, she has spent day and night in her breeding house. Now, the first results are appearing in the Viking ‘kitchen’ in The Netherlands; garden types in both standards and sprays with big flowers. Therefore, the time has come for a peek in the kitchen.”
One of the ‘peeks in the Viking kitchen’
Visit the trials
“I have made sure that around 30 selections will be blooming right before and during the IFTF. We would like for both national and international rose growers to come and visit us.” Interested in watching the roses bloom in The Netherlands? You can make an appointment with John Pouw through email (John@VikingRoses.com) or Whatsapp (+31641686880).
For more information:
Viking Roses
John Pouw
John@VikingRoses.com
www.VikingRoses.com