How to Plant Peony Seeds? A Detailed Guide to the Planting Method

The peony truly deserves to be called the “king of flowers.” In ancient times, Wu Zetian only permitted peonies to be planted within the palace, and even today's peonies still cannot be compared with wild chrysanthemums. Peonies bloom in a very delicate and gorgeous way, and they are plants that greatly love sunlight. Their drought tolerance is quite good. For such a “king of flowers,” how do you plant peony seeds?

1. Seed Treatment

Planting peonies requires collecting seeds. Generally, peony seeds can be collected in July, but the seeds mature in August. If the seeds become too mature, it will affect germination, so they need to be collected before they fully mature.

After collecting the seeds, they need to be soaked in warm water at 50°C, and the plump seeds should be selected out while the underdeveloped ones that float on the water are discarded. The soaking time should be about 20 hours. Once the seeds have fully absorbed water, they are ready.

Before planting, first soak the seeds in warm water at about 50°C. On one hand, this removes the unqualified seeds that float up, leaving the plump and solid seeds. On the other hand, it can effectively increase the germination rate of the seeds. The soaking time is usually about 20 hours, so that the seeds will fully absorb water.

Mix the peony seeds with some plant ash and stir, then add water and stir again. Plant ash can promote germination. It is beneficial for peony seed germination.

2. Planting Time

The planting time for peonies is a bit different from that of ordinary flowers. Most flowers and plants are sown in spring, but peonies need to be sown before White Dew. They must be planted around August or September. This planting time is very important for peonies. Missing this time will reduce the germination rate.

3. Planting Method

Before planting, take an appropriate amount of plant ash, add water and stir it into a muddy paste, then mix the seeds into it and stir evenly. This can make the seed germination rate higher.

For the peonies mixed with plant ash, prepare a 5 cm deep hole in the flower pot, place the treated peony seeds into the hole. Then press firmly. Water them. Ensure the soil moisture. Create good conditions for seed germination. Then place it in a ventilated and shaded area. After that, wait for the peony seeds to germinate.

The soil for planting peonies must be well aerated and good for drainage. At the same time, the soil must also be fertile.

4. Later Care

Peonies grow very slowly for the first three years, and after three years they will grow a bit faster. So this care process is a relatively long one. Peonies should not be watered too much. Be sure to control it well and do not let water accumulate. Before the seedlings emerge, they must not be placed in a sunny spot. Sun exposure should wait until after the seedlings have emerged. If it is winter, especially when they are seedlings, be sure to take care not to let them freeze.

Planting peonies requires us to pay attention to soil, water, temperature and fertilizing. Finally, I hope this article is of some help to friends who are planting peonies.