It has been a while since I have tried to time my roses to bloom before the rose show. It would be great to see what others are doing. I expect it will differ a bit based upon climate
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In the northwest corner of South Carolina, it typically takes 6 to 8 weeks for new canes to produce a new bloom depending on how many petals the rose has (more petals more time till bloom). So we are having our biggest show the weekend of October 9th. Since we can’t predict the weather we will prune down 1/3 of a bush, and then prune another 1/3 of the bush a few days later, and then prune the remaining bush a few days after that. We are trying to have blooms available for at least a few weeks around the show. If the weather is cooler, it will take longer for the blooms to mature, heat causes them to grow quicker.
(For Floribundas it is important to prune out the central bud before it gets too big, this will encourage the rest of the cluster to bloom at the same time.) I’m focused on participating at local rose shows.
Accordingly, I will start pruning my most heavily petaled hybrid teas the week of August 17th. Since I’m a beginner as an exhibitor I don’t plan on showing at the National in Nashville. I don’t have any help, so it would be a problem for me to successfully transport roses for this event.
Thanks! Your time to a bloom seems about what I tracked in the past. Mini’s for me bloom a week or so earlier. This summer I have been pruning regularly so it will be interesting to see what I have for the upcoming state fair. Pruning around state fair should be good for our District show the second week in September. Of course it is Mother Nature that really controls all of this! October blooms take some patience - especially in my garden that gets less sun in September due to the shorter days.