Peony seeds: planting, how to grow
Peonies can be grown in many different ways. But in order to get a new and unique flower, you need to use peony seeds. In addition, flowers grown in this way are more resistant to various diseases.
For sowing, you can use purchased seeds, but it is better to independently collect material from the plant from the end of August to mid-September. In this case, you should choose light brown, shiny, healthy and unstable specimens.
Peony seeds germinate very slowly
It is advisable to sow the seeds immediately in open ground. For this:
- Choose a landing site. It should be sunny, warm and protected from drafts. You should not grow flowers near the house or other buildings on the site, since, when heated, they will provoke drying out of the soil and reduce the humidity of the air.
- Prepare the soil. Dig deep into the ground, remove stones and weeds. Add humus, river sand and compost to it. The best option is loamy soil with gravel or broken brick drainage.
- On the prepared bed, make trenches or holes about 5 cm deep.The distance between them should be about 20 cm.
- Moisten the soil, place the seeds in it and lightly dig in them with earth.
This method is suitable for regions with mild climates and warm winters.
For the winter, be sure to mulch the top layer of the earth to protect the seeds from frost. Use sawdust, straw, or spruce branches for this.
The seeds sown in this way will partially sprout next spring. They will appear completely 2 years after planting.
How to grow peonies from seeds
After planting the seeds and the emergence of shoots, it is necessary to properly care for the seedlings and the plant as a whole.
Here’s what to do:
- Peonies love moisture. Therefore, water them abundantly and do not allow the soil to dry out. At the same time, do not allow excess moisture.
- After watering or rain, gently loosen the soil.
- Weed the beds as needed.
- Fertilize the soil from the 3rd year after planting. Use organic and mineral fertilizers for this. Apply manure, humus or mullein, superphosphate, and potassium chloride. The plant should be fed every 2 years.
- As the bush grows, make supports so that the branches do not break from the wind.
- During the flowering period, cut the flowers so that leaves remain on the stem for a new bush formation.
- Treat the shrub with special agents to combat various diseases and pests.
These simple steps will allow you to grow a beautiful flower in your garden. However, it will be possible to enjoy its flowering only 5 years after sowing.
Planting a peony with seeds and growing it is an entertaining activity that will surprise the grower with beautiful and unique flowers.