How and when to plant peony flowers

Peony is a beautiful and popular flower suitable for both ornamental and medicinal purposes. Peony flowers are large and beautiful, with various shapes, including chrysanthemum , rose, hydrangea, etc., and have high ornamental value. Let’s learn how and when to plant peonies.

1. Planting time

1. Autumn planting: The best time is from September to mid-October. At this time, the temperature gradually decreases and the soil temperature is suitable, which is conducive to the healing of root wounds and the germination of new roots.

2. Spring planting: It is suitable to be carried out from March to April, when the temperature warms up, which is conducive to plant growth.

2. Planting Method

1. Soil selection

Peonies prefer fertile, loose, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. It is recommended to choose sandy loam with deep soil layer and rich in humus. Before planting, you can add well-rotted organic fertilizers (such as compost, manure) and a small amount of bone meal or superphosphate to improve soil fertility.

2. Root tuber or seed treatment

Root tuber processing: Select healthy roots with full buds and thick roots, cut off diseased roots and residual roots, and retain 10-15 cm long roots. Soak the root tubers in 1% copper sulfate solution or 0.1% potassium permanganate solution for 30 minutes for disinfection, and dry them for later use.

Seed treatment: Select plump seeds, soak them in 50°C warm water for 24 hours before sowing, and then sow them in loose, fertile, acidic soil.

3. Planting steps

Dig planting holes with a spacing of 50-60 cm × 80-100 cm and a depth of 30-40 cm. Apply a layer of decomposed organic fertilizer and a small amount of compound fertilizer at the bottom of the pit, mix with the soil and cover with a thin layer of soil. Place the root tuber or seed in the hole with the bud eye facing up, fill the soil until it is level with the ground, and water it thoroughly.

3. Maintenance and management

Watering: Peony is drought-tolerant but afraid of waterlogging. Water it once a week to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. The water demand is higher during the spring budding and flowering periods, so watering can be increased appropriately.

Fertilization: Apply base fertilizer during planting, apply nitrogen fertilizer during the spring budding period, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers before flowering, and apply compound fertilizer after flowering.

Light: Peony likes light and needs to be guaranteed 6-8 hours of light per day.

Pruning: Prune dense and weak branches in spring, cut off the remaining flowers after flowering, and cut off dead branches in winter.

Pest and disease control: Pay attention to the prevention and control of aphids and viral diseases, and spray pesticides in time.

In summary, peony is loved for its beautiful flowers, rich colors and medicinal value. It is not only an important ornamental flower, but also an important source of traditional Chinese medicine. Whether used in garden landscape or as a medicinal plant, peony has extremely high value.