Detailed Steps for Planting White Peony (Radix Paeoniae Alba), the Complete Process from Site Selection to Harvest

White peony (Radix Paeoniae Alba) is a traditional herb commonly used in Chinese medicine, with its roots used as medicine. Its planting cycle is relatively long, and it goes through multiple stages from site selection to harvest. Mastering the standard planting steps is very important for improving the survival rate and the quality of the medicinal material. The whole process is roughly divided into several stages: site selection and land preparation, propagation and planting, field management, and harvest and processing.

The first is site selection and land preparation. White peony likes sunlight and tolerates cold but fears waterlogging, so it is best to choose a sunny, relatively high, well-drained plot with deep sandy loam soil. Before planting, plow deeply, apply plenty of decomposed organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer along with the plowing, then harrow finely and level the soil, and make suitable beds or ridges to create loose soil conditions for root growth.

The second is propagation and planting. In production, bud-head propagation is mainly used. When digging, the root heads with buds are divided into small sections, each retaining robust buds, and planted as they are divided. Planting time is mostly in autumn. Dig holes according to suitable row and plant spacing, place the bud heads upward into the holes, cover with soil and press firm, then water thoroughly, keeping the soil moist to facilitate rooting and survival.

Post-planting management is equally critical. During the growing period, frequent cultivating and weeding are needed to reduce weeds competing for fertilizer; topdressing should be carried out in several applications according to growth conditions, water timely in drought, and pay attention to drainage in the rainy season. When white peony buds and blooms, it consumes a large amount of nutrients, so except for seed fields, the flower buds are usually removed early so that nutrients are concentrated on root growth.

The last is harvest. White peony can generally be dug after growing for three to four years, mostly in autumn after the aboveground parts wither. After digging out the roots, shake off the soil, cut off the fibrous roots, and then process and dry them according to local customs to obtain commercial white peony.