Enjoying the planting methods and management of peony
About the planting methods and management of ornamental peonies, and the sharing of knowledge about the cultivation techniques of peonies, such as flowers and plants, please correct me if there are any mistakes!
Peonies are known as one of the "Top Ten Famous Flowers" and are also called the "Flower Fairy." Their blooming season is in May, earning them the title of "May Flower God." They are another beautiful flower following peonies. Some friends may not be familiar with peonies and tree peonies and cannot tell them apart. Peony plants are relatively shorter than tree peonies, with a height of about one meter, 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, there was a special fondness for peonies, which was reflected in poetry and painting. Zhang Daqian's famous painting "Peony" is very valuable today. Poets like Bai Juyi and Liu Zongyuan from the Tang Dynasty praised peonies in their poems. Peonies are also one of the traditional Chinese medicinal materials and are commonly cultivated in provinces such as Shandong, Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu. They can be used as ornamental plants and have medicinal value, making them very popular. Peonies are perennial plants and can be propagated through division or seed sowing.
1. The timing of division propagation should be accurate, generally carried out in autumn. Choose 3 to 5-year-old peonies as the mother plants for propagation. freshly dug peony plants have too much moisture, so they should not be cut immediately after digging. The excess liquid that flows out after cutting may slightly affect the survival rate. It is best to let the newly dug plants sit for about 40 hours to allow the nutrients in the roots to return. Then, cut them at the connection point so that each division has 1 to 2 or 3 buds. Since new wounds appear during the division process, this provides an opportunity for root rot diseases. Fresh wood ash is commonly used to cover the wounds, and the cutting tools should be disinfected with a 0.1% potassium permanganate solution or a 300-fold liquid of carbendazim. The density of planting varies depending on the purpose of the peony. For medicinal peony cultivation, the planting density can be with a row spacing of about 35 centimeters and a plant spacing of about 25 centimeters. For ornamental peony flowers, the density should be slightly sparse, with a row spacing of about 50 centimeters and a plant spacing of about 30 centimeters. Generally, it is sufficient to have 3,300 to 4,200 plants per mu. Division propagation should not be carried out in spring, summer, and winter, as peonies propagated in these seasons cannot ensure an ideal survival rate.
2. Peonies can be sown in autumn. Seed propagation is a rapid method for breeding peonies. Peony seeds are different from other crop seeds and require low-temperature treatment to improve germination rate. Collect fresh seeds in autumn and soak them in 40-degree warm water for one day and one night. Sowing from the end of August to the end of September is fine. With natural low winter temperatures, they can germinate and grow in the second year.
3. Disease and pest control: Peony brown spot disease, also known as red spot disease, is a very common and important disease affecting peonies. It can be controlled by spraying 1000-fold liquid of carbendazim plus brassinolactone on the leaves at the beginning of the disease or by spraying with a 600-fold liquid of杀毒矾. Peonies are also prone to rust disease, powdery mildew, and black spot disease, which can be prevented and treated with drugs such as tebuconazole, myclobutanil, propiconazole, and difenoconazole.
4. Topdressing and cultivation: After planting peonies for one year, it takes more than three years to harvest. To ensure good growth of peonies, fertilization is essential. It is best to use fully decomposed farm manure, which peonies prefer. Peonies dislike waterlogging, so ridge ditches should be prepared in advance. Fertilize 2 to 3 times a year. Regularly cultivate, loosen the soil, remove weeds, and apply soil. Before winter, leave 8 centimeters of ground and cut off the upper branches and leaves, clearing the field without damaging the roots of the peonies.
The above sharing on the planting methods and management of ornamental peonies and the specific introduction of peony cultivation techniques are hoped to be liked by everyone!