Paeonia Seed Planting Method
Today, I will introduce to you some information about peonies, specifically the planting method of peony seeds, which I believe will be helpful to you. Let's learn about it together!
"Peony" seeds are difficult to germinate. As the saying goes: "It's better to harvest 80% of the tender seeds than 90% of the old ones." Peony seeds are developed from the ovules inside the ovary, mature in mid-to-late August, and the rate of fruiting decreases as the degree of petalization of the pistil and stamen increases, sometimes even not fruiting at all. The germination rate of the seeds decreases with increasing maturity after reaching a certain degree of maturity. The sowing period is late. The upper embryonic axis of peony seeds has the characteristic of dormancy and can be harvested from late July to mid-August. It is best to sow immediately after harvesting, as sowing too early or too late will reduce the germination rate. I suspect that your seeds may have been stored for too long and the germination rate might be too low. If not sown after harvesting, the peony seeds need to be stored in sand to delay sowing.
Seed propagation results in late flowering, and the soil in Hengshui is slightly alkaline. The propagation of peonies can be done by seeding, dividing plants, or grafting. However, the seeding method takes a long time, as it takes 4-5 years from sowing to see flowers; there are few long-lived peonies in Hengshui, and beginners may find it difficult to care for them. If measures are not taken properly, even after germination, it may be difficult for them to grow smoothly, so most people opt for the division method.
Peony seeds should not be sown too deep, 3 to 4 centimeters is appropriate. After sowing, cover the soil flat with the ground, commonly known as "seeds in the soil, not deeper than five" (5 centimeters). Then gently press the soil and water thoroughly. In winter, cover with straw, leaves, or horse manure, or use plastic film to keep warm, moisture, and prevent cold. In the following year, when the peony begins to sprout and emerge from the soil, expose the seedlings to the ground, the weaker ones will only produce a small leaf, while the stronger ones can produce 2 to 3 leaves. Timely weeding should be done.
If all goes well, peonies grown from seeds can bloom in 3 to 5 years. Peonies are deep-rooted deciduous shrub flowers that love the sun, are cold-resistant, prefer cool environments, and dislike high temperatures and stuffiness. They thrive in loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy soil. They have a certain degree of drought resistance but do not tolerate moisture. They should not be planted in low-lying, water-logged areas, as excessive moisture in the soil can cause their fleshy roots to rot. The characteristics of peonies are "four likes and four fears," which means they like coolness and fear frost, like warmth and fear heat, like light and fear shade, and like dryness and fear moisture. Therefore, when planting peonies, choose a spacious and ventilated area with sunlight in the morning and fertile, loose soil. Avoid planting in water-logged, damp, or gravelly areas. When building a raised bed for planting, the size of the bed should be determined by the number and size of the plants, and the height should be based on the original terrain and the level of the water table. The general height is 50-100 centimeters, made of stones or bricks, and covered with broken tiles or bricks.
The above is the complete introduction to the planting method of peony seeds, for everyone to learn and understand!