They can be found on the market both as perennials and as shrubs - the peonies. Once planted properly and given a little care every now and then, they can be enjoyed for decades without regular rejuvenation of the crop. Below you can read how to plant peonies correctly!

Peonies should be planted in a bright, warm spot

When do you plant peonies?

Peonies are usually planted when they are commercially available. You can plant container goods all year round, provided there is no frost and the ground is frozen. Bare-root specimens should preferably be planted outdoors in autumn.

It is ideal - for all peonies - to plant them in the ground between September and the end of October. Then they can root well until next spring. But be careful: in the first winter you should cover the peonies sufficiently.

Which location is suitable for the plants?

Do you want your peony to bloom profusely? Then you should choose a bright and warm location for them. Peonies like to grow in sunny places, also under deciduous trees that give them some shade. But a fully shaded location should not be an option for them.

Place your peony in the sun or in partial shade! When choosing a location, make sure that it is protected from the wind, for example on the wall of a house or on a wall. It would be ideal if the location is sunny but shaded at midday. Thus, the peonies are protected from the heat in summer.

Which location is also completely unsuitable?

It is also worth noting when choosing the location that the peony should not be planted where a peony has already been. If you do this, you risk that the new peony will grow poorly and hardly or not at all bloom. The reason: so-called soil fatigue.

Can peonies also be cultivated on the balcony?

Peonies form long roots that reach deep into the soil. For this reason, they are rather unsuitable for pot and tub culture. If you want to plant them in the bucket, you should choose a very deep bucket. It should be about 50 cm deep. It is better to plant the peony outdoors.

What should the substrate be like?

In addition to the location, the substrate also plays a crucial role. Most importantly, it is profound. The following aspects are also advantageous:

  • moderate
  • well permeable (because it is sensitive to moisture)
  • moderately moist
  • humos (but not too humos, otherwise diseases quickly threaten)
  • nutritious
  • ideal: sandy loamy soil

How to properly sow peonies?

For sowing the following instructions:

  • can take 5 years until the first flowering starts
  • only use fresh seeds (they quickly lose their ability to germinate)
  • Seeds are cold germs
  • sow in the fall
  • e.g. B. in seed trays
  • Cover about 1 cm thick with substrate
  • place outdoors in semi-shade
  • keep moist
  • Germination time: up to 2 years
  • prick out in spring

What plant spacing should you pay attention to?

The planting distance depends on the respective peony species and variety. Perennial peonies should be placed at a distance of 1 m from each other. For rather low varieties, a planting distance of 80 cm is sufficient. Shrub peonies need a lot more space. A minimum distance of 120 cm is recommended here. A distance of 200 cm is more appropriate so that the plants do not appear crowded together.

When do peonies bloom?

Depending on the species and variety, peonies bloom at different times. There are the 'early bloomers' among them, who bloom as early as April. This includes, for example, the precious peony 'Claire de Lune'. Most specimens flower from May to June.

How to plant the crops step by step?

Planting perennial peonies is easy:

  • Dig a planting hole - 40 cm deep and 50 cm wide
  • If necessary, add compost and some sand for drainage
  • insert plant
  • Do not set the budding buds too deep (otherwise no flowers) - 3 to 5 cm below the ground
  • fill up with soil
  • press
  • water

The pruning-compatible shrub peonies are planted in a very similar way. There are two main differences! They should be planted in the ground at a slight angle. The result is that the plant develops more main shoots and grows bushier. It is also important to plant shrub peonies with the grafting point 10 to 15 cm below the surface of the soil.

tips

Choose the location carefully and with care! Peonies do not tolerate subsequent transplanting very well.

Category:

Vegetable garden