A Detailed Tutorial on the Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods for Peony

Peony, also known as Baishao, Hangshao, Haoshao, Chuanshao, etc., is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Ranunculaceae family. Its flowers are large and beautiful, and its roots used as medicine have the effects of calming liver yang, astringing yin and nourishing blood, and stopping sweating and easing the middle. Its cultivation techniques are as follows:

Land preparation and application of base fertilizer

Choose a field with deep soil, low groundwater level, good drainage, and loose, fertile sandy loam for planting. Evenly broadcast 3000-4000 kg of high-quality organic fertilizer and 50-60 kg of ternary compound fertilizer per mu as base fertilizer, plow 60 cm deep, and harrow finely and level.

Seed selection and propagation

Peony propagation includes methods such as root division propagation and seed propagation. In production, root division propagation is mostly used. In autumn, while harvesting peonies, select peony plants with thick, long, uniform roots, robust terminal buds, and no pests or diseases. Cut off the large roots with a diameter of more than 0.5 cm for medicinal use, and keep the root clusters with buds (also called peony heads) for propagation. Divide the buds used for propagation into blocks (also called peony buds) according to size and natural growth shape, with each block preferably having 2--3 robust buds and a thickness of about 2 cm. The peony buds from the peony roots of one mu can be planted in 3-5 mu of field. Peony buds should be planted immediately after cutting. If they cannot all be planted at once, store the peony buds in a wet sand pit 20 cm deep.

Planting and watering

Generally, planting is done from late August to September. Earlier is better than later, and no later than late October; otherwise, the peony buds will have already developed new roots, which will affect the yield and quality of the peony. To ensure uniform emergence and facilitate management, peony buds should be graded by size and planted in holes. The row spacing and plant spacing are 50 cm × 30 cm, with holes 12 cm deep and 20 cm in diameter. First pour enough water into the hole. After the water seeps down, spread 4 cm of decomposed barnyard manure at the bottom of the hole, cover it with 4 cm of soil, compact it, and then place the peony buds in the middle of the hole with the bud tips facing upward, placing 1-2 peony buds per hole. After planting, mound soil 10-15 cm high around each hole. Before overwintering, water thoroughly with anti-freezing water.

Cultivation and weeding

After the soil thaws in early spring of the following year, remove the mounded soil in time and loosen the soil to preserve moisture, so as to facilitate emergence. Within 2 years after the seedlings emerge, cultivation and weeding should be carried out 3-4 times each year; thereafter, weeding should be carried out 4--6 times each year from plant sprouting to canopy closure. In summer drought, cultivate to preserve moisture; in winter, combine cultivation with thorough garden cleaning to reduce pests and diseases.

Fertilizer and water management

Peony is a fertilizer-loving crop. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, starting from the 2nd year after planting, topdressing is required 3 times each year; the 1st time is after cultivation and weeding in March, applying 1500---2000 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu; the 2nd and 3rd times are in May and July respectively, each time applying 1500 kg of human and livestock manure water and 25-30 kg of cake fertilizer per mu, or 40--60 kg of ternary compound fertilizer. Peony likes dryness and fears waterlogging, so it generally does not need watering; only in severe drought should one thorough irrigation be given. In rainy seasons, ditches must be cleared for drainage; otherwise, after 6 hours of flooding, root rot will occur and the whole plant will die.

Cutting flowers and removing buds

Medicinal peony blooms in the 3rd year after planting. After flowering, except for plants retained for seed, in the morning from late April to early May, gently cut off the newly opened buds from the base of the flower stem to use as cut flowers or fresh flowers, so as to concentrate nutrients for the growth needs of the roots.

Pest and disease control

The pests and diseases harmful to peony include gray mold, rust, soft rot, white grubs, cutworms, and others. Gray mold can be controlled with metalaxyl, Bordeaux mixture, etc.; rust can be controlled with triadimefon, oxadixyl, propiconazole, etc.; soft rot can be controlled with agricultural streptomycin, mancozeb, kasugamycin, etc.; white grubs, cutworms, and others can be controlled by root irrigation or strip application along the rows with pesticides such as isofenphos-methyl, phoxim, carbofuran, etc.

Harvesting and processing

Generally, in August-September of the 4th year after planting, choose a sunny day to harvest the old roots of peony. When harvesting, first cut off the stems and leaves of the plant, then dig out the entire root, remove the soil, and cut off the main root and lateral roots for processing.