Thinking of growing beautiful peonies from seed? You’re in for a long ride. Peonies take about three to four years to become an adult plant, which is about the same time you’ll need to wait to see prolific blooms. For those who insist on growing peonies from seed, here’s a short guide on peony growth stages and what to expect.
Seed Stage
The first phase of a peony’s life is the seed stage. To coax the seed out of its shell, you’ll want to soak them in clean, room temperature water for several days. Change the water each day, then plant the seed about 2-3 inches deep. It will take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks for peony seeds to germinate.
With success, your peony seeds will soon turn into seedlings, and you will be well on your way to seeing leaves emerge.
Bud Swelling Stage
The bud swelling stage is exactly as it sounds- peony buds come out of shiny scales and shoot upwards. The buds assume a red, orange, or pale yellow color and look like chili peppers that are stuck on the ground.
These buds will not flower yet but will transform into the plant structure we see in peonies. Since there are a lot of different peony varieties, the swelling stage and how long it goes on will depend on what you are growing.
Shoot Emergence Stage
In this peony phase, the red or orange buds will grow upwards and get longer. At first glance, you might think that it’s just a stem, but on closer look, you’ll see that there are leaves packed tightly within the spiraling structure.
Your peony plant will continue to produce stems with baby leaves that are still unfolded. Continue basic care requirements for seedlings, and make sure that the soil is constantly moist to support optimal growth.
Leaf Opening and Extension Stage
Your peonies will begin to ‘branch’ out, or form multiple stems and leaves. In the second and third years, you’ll start to see flower buds forming at the top of the foliage.
It’s worth noting that your peony’s full height will be attained at this stage. Depending on the cultivar, your plant can grow up anywhere between 3 to 5 feet (or 36 to 60 inches) in height. You might see buds forming in the first year but it won’t likely become a flower.
During this stage, you can add an inch or two of organic mulch to help retain moisture. A light feeding of organic fertilizer or a diluted liquid fertilizer will help the peony grow faster and healthier.
Bud Enlargement Stage
When the time is right your peonies will start producing flower buds, which will grow to roughly the size of a golf ball. They will be sitting on top of tall stems and supported by their thick structure.
At this point, you should be able to see the color of the peony flowers you’re growing. The round buds will have a green coating underneath, but the flower color will peek out at the top. With a bit of patience, the buds will soon open, and your peonies will get to the next growth stage.
Flowering Stage
Adult peonies will form enlarged buds and turn them into full-fledged, scrumptious, and silky blooms with lots and lots of attractive petals. It’s worth noting that the flowers will have an amazing scent to accompany their appearance.
Your garden or yard comes alive at this growth stage, and the peony flowers soon color the landscape. The blooms last anywhere around 7 to 10 days, and flowering buds will continue to form and flower in about 4 to 6 weeks.
Resting Stage
In preparation for the coming cold and winter, peonies shed their last blooms as well as their foliage. Peony enters a stage of dormancy, which begins in the fall and lasts through the winter season. All the visible plant growth above the ground will die, and it will stay this way until the next spring.
A hard prune gives your peony a greater chance to make it back next season. You can add mulch to preserve heat, but water less as the plant won’t need that much. Peony plants will begin with the shoot emergence stage when temperatures warm up.
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