Peony Update
Your Peonies are Ready for You
Are you ready for them?
We sold 25 different varieties of peonies this year, and 24 of them are on their way! We have received confirmation that the majority of the roots have been dug, graded, washed, packed, inspected and are in transit to the US. They will arrive in the middle of next week and be immediately shipped on to you. Most of you will receive most of your peonies before Halloween, as expected. You will receive a shipping notification email with tracking information as soon as the shipping label has been created. The tracking links will go “live” and begin showing movement when the box is scanned into the FedEx truck (this may take up to 48 hours).
A word on Coral Sunset
If you ordered Coral Sunset, you will receive your roots 7-10 days behind the others. The farmers in the Netherlands had a rough year with almost nonstop rain that has continued into their harvest season. They are digging the last of the roots this weekend. We all know the challenges of wet soil and feel for the farmers trying to get their crop out of the ground in a timely manner. We appreciate your understanding here. We expect these roots, and any ordered this past week, to arrive in the US just before Halloween and then will be shipped on to you within a day or two of arrival. You should receive them in the first week of November.
Soil preparation
The difficult part about planting peonies is the soil preparation. The planting part could hardly be easier. So if you haven’t prepared your soil yet, take these last few days of warm sunshine to compost, amend, till (or not if that’s your thing), weed, mulch, etc. You know your soil better than I do. Peonies like rich, moisture retentive, well drained soil, and are really quite adaptable. They don’t like standing water so make sure you have selected a location with good drainage. Plant in full sun. They will live in partially shaded locations, but will not flower well. Remember these plants can outlive us. If you have chosen your location wisely you may never need to dig them or move them for the rest of your farming career. So take a little extra time to amend and prepare your beds and your plants will thank you for it.
If you can’t plant your roots on arrival, simply put them in your cooler, keeping their bags tightly closed. You don’t want them to dry out. You can plant anytime the soil can be worked even into the winter months. The ground seldom freezes in much of the US anymore, which is good news for procrastinators. Ideally you’ll get the roots in the ground within a few days of arrival. Northern growers aim to have them planted by Thanksgiving at latest as your ground may freeze solid after that point. You have time, but don’t push it!
Spacing
Three foot spacing is generally recommended for Peonies. This can either be in one straight row, or in a staggered double row. Some growers will plant them 2 feet apart which can work in the short term but you may find yourself moving every other plant after a few years to give them space. Space between plants and between rows is the best way to increase airflow and reduce botrytis, one of the most common diseases of Peonies. Plant the eyes about 2 inches below soil level.
A Note on Eremurus
If you have ordered Eremurus, most of them will arrive before Halloween as well. Those ordered this past week will arrive in early November. Save your best drained location for these stately beauties. They come from the arid grasslands of Afghanistan and are not adapted to soggy soils whatsoever. Spacing of 2-3 feet is recommended.
The future of Peonies
We are always looking forward to future seasons. If there are peony varieties you are looking for, please let us know so we can start trying to find them for next year.
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Peony Growing Guide
Although peonies will survive in hardiness zones 3-8, they prefer and perform better in colder zones. They may struggle in zone 8 from the lack of an extended cold winter.
When planting the bare roots, position them with the eyes facing upwards, and cover with no more than 1-2" of soil. Planting too deeply will encourage foliage to grow with few flowers.
For the first 3 years after planting, it is suggested that you do not harvest the flowers. Taking the flowers themselves is not the real issue, more so that you would also be taking some foliage along with them, and every leaf is important to the plant at this stage as they are photosynthesizing and helping the roots store nutrients for next years growth.
Post flowering, remove spent blooms so that the plant doesn't expend valuable energy on unnecessary seed production. At the end of the season, around the time of the first frost, cut the plants back to the ground and dispose of the dead material to prevent any fungal or bacterial issues the following spring.