Advice on peonies

[grannysmith]

HI everyone

I tried to plant a peony late last autumn and it didn't make it through the winter. I may have put it in too late and it was a very small plant to start.

I want to try again this spring in an open location with good sun. Does anyone have any tips on this? I have heard that it's good to support it with a sort of cage-type support since the flower heads may be heavy and it might need a sort of globe support around the plant as it starts out.

Any ideas about types of soil preference or growing tips?

Thanks in advance for anything you can suggest. It's my first one, but if it works out, I was hoping to put a few together in the garden to make a little floral arrangement of them outdoors.

[Rhona]

I adore peonies. They can be a bit delicate when very young but become much more robust. I may be stating the obvious, but did you plant very deeply? They really need to be planted deeply, right up to the first leaf buds ideally. When I first grew peonies, that was my mistake...

[grannysmith]

No, I didn't plant it deeply because the lady at the garden centre said "Don't plant it deeply or above this soil level in the pot, because peonies have some sort of light-sensitive "eye" about an inch above the soil line and if that gets covered, it won't flower".

So I planted it at the same level as the pot soil. Do you suppose that was the mistake?

[Rhona]

It does depend on the variety and it is true that one of the reasons for a non-flowering peony if TOO deeply planted, but failure to thrive can also be due to too-shallow planting. Easy isn't it?!

If the soil level in the pot was already quite deep, and you got that advice, then maybe the depth wasn't the problem?

I was chatting to a neighbour last year about his peonies which are beautiful, asking him for his secrets. He told me he just 'lobbed them in the ground and left them.' Not fair, is it?

[grannysmith]

WAYYYY not fair!!!

Mine was also fairly close to a path and I think maybe since we are on the way to a pub, maybe someone didn't help by stepping on it.

I plan to use a wire mesh to support it this year if I plant another (and that will hopefully keep any footloose pub crawlers off it too!)

The depth thing is a bit of a worry though. I always put my clematis in about 6 inches deeper than the pot soil line, but with peonies I have no idea what I'm doing. (That is why I'm here begging for advice. )

The real question is, has anyone heard of this "light sensitive" spot on peonies? Or is that an urban myth?

[sarraceniac]

I think your initial advice was wrong Granny. Here is a precis of various advice taken from expert sources. As you can see the 'eyes' want to be buried.

Plant bare root specimens in autumn so roots may have time to become established. Dig a hole about two feet across and at least 18" deep. Mix several shovels of compost or well rotted manure with the bottom soil. Fill the hole 1/2 way with topsoil mixed with more compost and a cup of bone meal. If soil is acidic also mix in a cup of ground limestone as peonies thrive in a pH between 6.5 and 7. "Eyes" should be at a depth of 1-2 inches. Tap gently (protecting the eye buds) to eliminate air spaces and water, gently please. Finally add light mulch. Don't expect too much the first year.

Just editing to say that the 'light sensitive spot' is what you may call an urban myth. I'd call it bleeeep

Hope this helps.

[grannysmith]

AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!

Hahhahaah . . . I liked "Bleep". Yeah. . . let's call it the "eyes" then.

1 - 2 inches below the surface is a lot different to "1 to 2 inches ABOVE the surface". Sigh. Well, at least it's spring and I can start again with a new one.

If I have any luck with this, I'll have you lot to thank, and if it works, I'll plant more.

Fingers crossed, eh?

[Flummery]

The depth is important - your advisers here have it right!
Second tip - once youve decided where you want it - don't move it!

[FoxHillGardener]

The planting depth thing depends whether it's a herbaceous type or semi-shrub "tree peony". The former need planting shallowly, the latter deep

[Flummery]

It's herbaceous that need to be deep in my experience.
See, ask a question here and you get more answers that you need!

[Glutton4...]

Ooops, sorry, I read this as 'Advice on PONIES!'

I do like Peonies though!

[grannysmith]

Hi Glutton . . . I like ponies too. Easy enough mistake to make.

All the same, I was hoping for the herbaceous type rather than the "tree" type. The garden centre says they will have some next month, so I was planning on trying one to see how it does.

Thanks, Flummery, and Foxhill too---I'll plant it deeper and give it a bit of love, compost, and support round it and see how it does over the spring and summer. Planting deeper sounds sensible, though. I'll make sure the "eyes" are under the soil this time.

[FoxHillGardener]

Ask three gardeners, get five answers...

It's herbaceous that need to be deep in my experience.
See, ask a question here and you get more answers that you need!

[grannysmith]

The more the merrier!

Plus, I need all the help I can get. So thanks everyone!!!

[Glutton4...]

I was given a Peony years ago, the woman didn't like it! I cut the lump into two, and planted both in my garden. Clay soil, shaded in the morning, sun after lunch, and they did nothing for a year. I couldn't tell you how far down I planted them, or even if they were the right way up - I hadn't a clue about Gardening at the time.

Anyway, years two onwards (we moved out in year eleven) they grew and flowered their socks off. They were that lovely velvety deep burgundy pink colour. Fabulous!