Why is autumn chosen as the transplanting and planting time for oilseed peonies?
When should oilseed peonies be transplanted and planted? Expert advice: oilseed peonies can also be transplanted in spring, but spring transplanting of oilseed peonies requires proper care to ensure the survival rate, and it requires a relatively large input of manpower and resources. In particular, the development of oilseed peonies involves large-scale planting, so taking everything into consideration, it is recommended to transplant oilseed peonies in autumn. Fengdan is a perennial woody plant. When grown in good farmland, the seed yield of five-year-old peonies is about 300 kg per mu, which is 2-3 times that of domestic soybeans and 2 times that of domestic peanuts; while the seed yield of 15-year-old Fengdan peonies can reach 600-800 kg per mu. At the same time, it produces about 50 kg of dry pollen per mu and large amounts of peony tiller buds and peony petals. Every part is valuable, with high added value.
Growth habits of Fengdan
Within a year, the root system of Fengdan alternates between growth periods and dormancy periods, and this does not completely coincide with the activity of the aboveground organs.
In spring, when the temperature of the 20 cm soil layer stabilizes at 4°C-5°C, the root system begins to become active and sprout new roots, which is basically synchronized with the sprouting of the aboveground buds. As the temperature rises, root growth becomes more vigorous. During leaf expansion, bud appearance and flowering, this process consumes large amounts of nutrients and water. The root system mainly absorbs nutrients from the soil and uses its own stored substances to meet the nutrient demands of the rapid growth and development of the aboveground parts, and only secondarily for its own elongation and thickening.
In the high-temperature summer season, the aboveground parts enter the stage of flower bud differentiation and seed development. At this time, root activity becomes weak and is in a semi-dormant state. After autumn begins, the temperature gradually decreases, and the root system starts its second growth period, with large amounts of nutrients accumulating in the root bark (mainly the secondary phloem). At this time, the aboveground parts have already entered dormancy, but the root system is still growing and continuously producing new roots. The root system enters dormancy later than the aboveground parts, and its growth period is also longer than that of the aboveground parts. This is an important reason why Fengdan is suitable for field transplanting in autumn.
Benefits of autumn transplanting
When Fengdan is transplanted in autumn, the temperature gradually drops, the aboveground parts enter dormancy, the demand for water decreases, and less nutrients are consumed, which helps maintain physiological balance. Moreover, at this time the root bark of Fengdan is rich in stored nutrients. When the outside temperature has not yet dropped significantly, the ground temperature is still relatively high, and the roots of Fengdan have not yet fully entered dormancy. The roots cut during transplanting can heal as early as possible, and the root system is still growing and continuously producing new roots.
After a winter, the root system becomes closely integrated with the soil. In the following spring, these new roots can grow rapidly, effectively enhancing the water absorption function of the Fengdan root system and improving resistance to adverse environments. This is beneficial for the growth and recovery of the aboveground branches and buds and ensures the survival of Fengdan.