When is the best time to plant peonies?

Peony has been regarded as a symbol of love since ancient times. It enjoys the reputation of "Flower Fairy", "Flower Phase" and "May Flower God", and is listed as one of the top ten famous flowers in China. There are various methods for propagating peony, including division, sowing, cutting and layering, which are used in different regions. Among them, division is the most common method of reproduction, especially in flower cultivation. Let’s learn together when is the best time to plant peonies?

When is the best time to plant peonies?

If you plan to plant peonies, it is recommended to do so between September and October in autumn, because the temperature at this time is moderate, not too high or too low, which is conducive to the rapid germination and rooting of peony seeds . Avoid planting too late as this will cause the seeds to have difficulty growing and reduce germination rates. Likewise, don't plant too early, as high temperatures may kill the seeds in the soil.

If you want to grow peonies in winter, you need to ensure that the temperature of the breeding environment is suitable and the room temperature is maintained at around 18 to 25°C. As long as the temperature is not too low, it can be planted in winter.

How to plant peony

Seed selection: In order to ensure the good growth of peony seeds, you should choose high-quality seeds when purchasing, and avoid buying immature or old seeds because of low prices. These seeds have a low germination rate.

Soil preparation: When growing peonies, use soil that is rich in organic matter and has adequate nutrients. Before planting, the soil needs to be disinfected to prevent the growth of pathogens.

Sowing method: Sow the seeds into the soil to a depth of about 2 cm. Sowing too shallowly may result in the seeds being exposed to air and affect germination.

Growing conditions: The root growth of peony has high requirements for climatic conditions. When the local temperature drops to 25℃, the root system grows actively, and spring and autumn are the most vigorous growth periods (spring is dominated by capillary root growth, and autumn is dominated by rhizome expansion). When the temperatures are high in summer, peony enters a semi-dormant state, which is the main difference between its growth and that of other plants.

When transplanting peonies in autumn ( white peony with stem buds, red peony with root seedlings), although the temperature drops, the soil temperature is suitable and the seedlings can sprout new roots in the soil to accumulate nutrients for spring growth.

When transplanting peonies in spring, the growth of the plants will consume a lot of root nutrients, and the capillary roots will be damaged during the transplanting process, which not only reduces the survival rate of the peonies, but also affects the accumulation of nutrients needed for flowering.

Peony is a flower that many people like. There are several varieties of it, which are mainly divided into two categories: medicinal and ornamental value. Please pay attention to the distinction when buying seeds.