When to plant peony seeds
For most people, knowledge about when to plant peony seeds and the methods and timing of peony cultivation is not common. Let's follow the editor to explore this topic! Peonies are known as one of the "Top Ten Famous Flowers" and are also called "Flower Fairies." They bloom in May and are known as the "May Flower God," coming after the peony as another beautiful flower. Some friends may not be able to distinguish between peonies and tree peonies, as peony plants are relatively smaller, about one meter tall, while tree peonies can reach about two meters. Peonies bloom around mid-to-late April, and it takes about two weeks for the peony flowers to bloom. In ancient China, peonies were very admired, as reflected in poetry and paintings. Zhang Daqian's famous painting "Peony" is quite valuable today. Poets like Bai Juyi and Liu Zongyuan in the Tang Dynasty praised peonies in their poems. Peonies are a type of Chinese medicinal material and are commonly cultivated in provinces such as Shandong, Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu. They can be used as ornamental plants and also have medicinal value, making them very popular. Peonies are perennial plants and can be propagated by division or seed sowing.
1. The timing of division propagation should be accurate, generally carried out in autumn. Select 3 to 5-year-old peonies as the parent plants for propagation. The freshly dug peony plants have too much moisture and should not be cut immediately. Cutting too soon can affect the survival rate. It's best to let the newly dug plants sit for about 40 hours to allow the nutrients to return to the roots. Then, cut at the connection point so that each clump has 1 to 2 buds, or 3 buds. Since new wounds appear during the division process, this provides an opportunity for root rot diseases to infect. Fresh wood ash is commonly used to cover the wounds. The cutting tools should be disinfected with a 0.1% potassium permanganate solution or 300 times the concentration of thiophanate-methyl solution. Depending on the different uses of peonies, the planting density varies. For medicinal peonies, the planting density can be about 35 cm between rows and 25 cm between plants. For ornamental peonies, the density should be slightly lower, with a row spacing of about 50 cm and a plant spacing of about 30 cm. Generally, 3300 to 4200 plants per mu are sufficient. Division propagation should not be carried out in spring, summer, or winter, as peonies propagated during these seasons cannot ensure an ideal survival rate.
2. Peonies can be planted in autumn. Seed propagation is a quick method to cultivate peonies. Peony seeds are different from other crop seeds and require low-temperature treatment to increase germination rates. Collect new seeds in autumn, soak them in 40-degree warm water for 24 hours, and plant them from the end of August to the end of September. With natural low temperatures in winter, they can germinate and grow in the second spring.
3. Disease and pest control. Peony brown spot, also known as red spot, is a very common disease that affects peonies. In the early stages of the disease, you can spray 1000 times the concentration of thiophanate-methyl plus brassinolide on the leaves. Alternatively, you can spray with a 600 times concentration of杀毒矾. Peonies are also prone to rust, powdery mildew, and black spot diseases. Commonly used drugs for control include tebuconazole, myclobutanil, propiconazole, and difenoconazole.
4. Fertilization and tillage. After planting peonies once, it takes more than three years to harvest. To ensure good growth of peonies, fertilization is essential, preferably with well-rotted farmyard manure, which peonies like and fear flooding. When planting, prepare ridges and furrows in advance, and fertilize 2 to 3 times a year. Regularly till the soil, remove weeds, and apply soil to the base. Before winter, leave 8 cm of the ground, cut off the upper branches and leaves, and clean the field without damaging the peony roots.
The above information about when to plant peony seeds, peony cultivation methods, and timing is complete and hopes to help you. Also, we hope you will come to see more green plant and flower experience and common sense!