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Many people like large peony flowers. Blooming in late spring, they become the most visible in the garden. Peony Pastelegans attracts with an unusual color of the petals, which many flower growers call unique. For Our Country, this is a new variety and is still quite rare, but it is already in considerable demand.
Description of the herbaceous peony Pastel Elegance
Pastel Elegance is an interspecific hybrid, was bred in 1989 by American breeder Bill Seidl and is his best achievement. It belongs to herbaceous peonies, an adult plant reaches a height of 70-80 cm. Its leaves are blue-green, dark, with a semi-glossy surface, the stems are strong, the bush is not sprawling.
Peony can grow both in the sun and in the shade, loves moisture, fertile, loose soil. It grows well at temperatures from -40 to 34 ° C, cold-resistant, does not need shelter for the winter.
Features of flowering
Medium flowering plant. The flower of the hybrid is terry, large, 20-23 cm in diameter. The petals are painted in pink-peach tones, the aroma is pleasant, unexpressed. The color, size and shape typical of the hybrid are acquired by the plants in the 3rd-4th season. Suitable for cutting.
Pastelegans peonies look gentle and very noble
Application in design
For a variety with flowers of such an original color, you need to choose a place in the garden in which the plant will be clearly visible. Many flower growers place peonies near a residential building, garages, summer kitchens and other outbuildings. You can plant them in flowerbeds in the center of the composition or along the paths.
As for the neighbors with whom the peony will look harmonious, these are flowering plants of the same height or less. Near the bushes of the Pastelegans variety, both perennials and annuals with flowers of any color and decorative leaves can be planted. If you want to create the effect of incessant flowering, you need to choose plants so that they bloom gradually – from spring to autumn. It is undesirable to plant tall or voluminous plants near peonies or between them, which will easily cover them with themselves.
In room culture, the Pastelegans peony is not grown, for this it is too large. For planting in pots, a group of low-growing varieties has been specially bred, which are well adapted to this particular method of cultivation.
Methods of reproduction
Despite the fact that peonies are long-lived and can grow in one place for many years without harming themselves, they also need to be replanted (to rejuvenate the bush or simply to increase the number of plants).
The vegetative method of propagating peonies is the fastest and most reliable. Like many varieties, Pastelegans can be propagated by rooted green or root cuttings, or by dividing the bush.
Root cuttings are dug up in the fall (a month and a half before the onset of cold weather) or early spring (before the stems begin to grow) and transplanted to a garden bed where they take root. The next year they are transferred to a permanent place. At the same time, the division of the bush is also carried out. When dividing, it is necessary to ensure that in each individual part there are several growth buds. Green cuttings are cut from stems with a part of the root neck at least 10-15 cm long. They are rooted in a humid and warm greenhouse. Transplanted to a permanent place after a year.
Peony seedlings should be rooted before planting in the ground
Rules of landing
The recommended time for planting peony seedlings is September-October – after they finish the growing season. In the spring, they are planted in March or early April – before young stems appear from the ground. Potted seedlings can be transplanted in the summer along with a clod of earth. They get along well.
In any case, you first need to select and prepare a place on the site. Most peonies, including the Pastelegans variety, love the sun, flowers grow much worse in the shade, so you should not place them too close to the house, other buildings, any tall fences or trees. Damp areas where water often stagnates are also not suitable.
The soil is preferred fertile, loose, with good moisture absorption and air passage. They do not like an acidic environment, if the site has an acidic soil, it must be limed.
Seedlings of Pastelegans peonies, suitable for planting, must be with well-developed roots and buds, completely healthy. Preparation consists of soaking the roots in a solution of a root stimulator, for example, Kornevin. The processing time is indicated in the instructions for the drug.
Aftercare
Peonies are not indifferent to moisture, especially during the period of rooting and forcing new stems. Adult bushes do not need to be watered so often, their roots penetrate quite deeply, so they have enough rainwater in the not hot season. But if the summer is too hot or the drought lasts for a long time, then you need to water the bushes, spending at least 2 buckets of water on each. After watering, the ground around the bushes needs to be loosened. You can protect the soil from rapid drying with mulch, this will reduce the number of waterings and loosening, and facilitate care.
Feed peonies Pastelegans 3 times per season:
- In the spring, after the snow has completely melted, nitrogen fertilizers are applied.
- During the budding period, phosphorus and potassium are added to them.
- After flowering, only phosphorus and potassium are used.
On poor sandy soils, you can carry out another top dressing in the fall – after the leaves begin to turn yellow. Both mineral and organic fertilizers are equally effective as additional nutrition, but in the presence of both, it is better to use organic matter.
During the budding period, you need to inspect the bushes of the Pastelegans variety and cut off small buds on each stem, leaving the largest ones. Of these, the largest flowers will bloom. After withering, everything must be cut off to give
Blooming peonies of different varieties on the same bed are a real decoration of the garden
Preparation for winter
Autumn care for Pastelegans peony bushes consists of pruning and shelter for the winter. Stems are cut at ground level. They are taken outside the site and burned so as not to spread possible diseases. The bush is covered with a layer of mulch at least 5 cm thick. Despite the cold resistance inherent in the peony, warming will not interfere with it.
Pests and diseases
Peonies affect fungal and viral diseases. One of the most common is leaf rust. It is quite simple to see the characteristic damage and distinguish it from the symptoms of other diseases – brown-brown with reddish spots appear on the leaves. They are located separately, over time they can merge into larger spots of irregular shape. Control measures: pluck and burn all diseased leaves, spray the bush with Bordeaux mixture.
Gray rot affects the entire plant, its stems, leaves, buds. It spreads more often in damp weather. The disease is manifested by causeless wilting, then a gray coating appears on the green parts. The peony gradually fades and may die. Measures to combat rot are the same as with rust.
Pastelegans peonies can get powdery mildew, although less often than rust and rot. It is not difficult to determine it – if the plant is damaged, a white coating will be noticeable on the upper leaf plates. Control measures: spraying with any fungicide against this disease.
Of the viral diseases, peonies can become sick with leaf mosaic. Symptoms are characteristic: yellowish-green spots appear on the leaves, located in a mosaic pattern. Over time, necrosis appears in their place. Viral diseases of peonies are not treated, so the affected specimens must be eliminated, burned, and not planted in this place for several years in a row.
The most malicious pests of peonies are ants. They penetrate the buds and flowers that have not yet opened, eat the petals, which spoil their appearance. In the fight against ants, you need to use repellents or insecticides.
In addition to ants, peony flowers damage bronzes. Pests gnaw on the petals, as do ants. Bronze beetles are large, noticeable, they can be collected by hand, but if there are a lot of them or with a large number of bushes, insecticides will have to be used.
Flowers can be used for cutting, planted in a garden seating area
Conclusion
Peony Pastelegans differs from many other varieties in large double flowers and unusual coloring. It has not yet received distribution, but is already well known to many flower growers who wish to replenish their collection. In addition to an attractive appearance, the Pastelegans variety is distinguished by rapid growth, good rooting, and unpretentious care.
Peony Reviews Pastelegans
