peonies

Hi, I just found this forum looking for a gardening forum as i have lots of different questions so my first.
I just got 3 peonies from QVC and they arrived yesterday. The problem i have is that i was not expecting them to arrive so fast and have no compost. Im not sure if i have done right here because I have dug out and washed all the large pots from last years plants and removed weeds then forked the compost and have planted these tree peonies in the old compost for now so that they wont die or dry out. Have i done the right thing and will it be ok to re-plant them later on in the week in the ground ?

 

At last another peony fan, I`ve been waiting a long time.


Which ones did you go for?


Personally, I wouldn`t put peonies in a pot except for a very large one, because I just don`t trust them with these very precious plants and they require a good deal of room, however they`re in now, so make sure you have them against a warm wall or somewhere very sheltered for the short term untill you plant them out. The soil absolutely must be well drained, they come from the mountains of China and can tolerate wind and some cold ( once established) but not standing water-it will kill them.




Otherwise-and what I would do myself, is to plant them out now into a deeply dug bed with plenty of compost in and a slow release fertilizer, and mulch them to protect them should there be any frosts with the cold weather predicted next week.


They will, I guarantee be very rewarding plants, nothing beats the bloom of a peony.

 

They will be fine. If you have to leave them in the pots all year then they will need some food, but the fact the compost is old won't matter

Claire: I think Maryinbrum is planning to plan them in a week or so

 

Thanks Kristen, spotted it, but just couldn`t keep my enthusiasm in check-sorry, bit of a peony nut I`m afraid.

 

"bit of a peony nut"

me two ... I've ordered 8 or 10 for my new herbaceous border. Need Quantity rather than Quality so have chosen not to buy Tree Peonies as yet nor, even more extravagantly, Intersectional Peonies

 

Yes, I`m afraid I will have to save up for those too.


And I did not know you were nuts as I am about them.



...............although I must admit, I have always thought you were nuts..........chuckle, snigger.

 

Thanks, yes I wasnt planned and ready yet but couldnt leave them in the bag and they are very large pots and one in the ground with lots of sand and stones for now.
They are called sscented tree peony colllection from Thompson and Morgan ( via qvc)
Xua Ta (white), Rou fu rong (pink) and Hua wang (red). Sounds like a take away lol. The garden is very sheltered and im aiming to fill the patio with fragrance. I also ordered 2 wisteria plants so hope they dont come too quick

 

I saw Sainsbury's are getting into the act of selling perennial roots in boxes/compost but they are the only retailer (that I've seen) to do Peonies, so I messaged Claire for advice as I know she is a well known Peony fan on here. As a result of her extensive advice, I bought one (Sarah Bernhardt) and tomorrow its being planted out in its desired location...I will then send a prayer to whichever gods happen to be listening for it to succeed as I think they are truly beautiful plants.

Maryinbrum, shall we have a try to see who's Peonies do the best?

Thanks for the advice as well Claire.

 

It`s a genuine pleasure to chat about these most beautiful of flowers.

The moutan were especially prized and were often stipulated by the grooms father in a brides dowry-many an ugly woman got herself a good looking fella because of her garden lol.

The chinese peony festivals are a dream of mine to visit one day.

 

:lollol:Sounds lovely lollipop, I think I had better fill up the entire garden as im single lol, you never know :rotfl:

 

Well it worked for me, my hubby is very handsome, ( he`s many other things too, but they aren`t so flattering:lollol


A personal favourite of mine is the Rocks Peony,



the two colours are perfect together on one beautiful flower.

 

A couple of last years flowers to cheer you up Claire,

 

They are gorgeous Walnut, I might not be able to find the money to splurge on a large quantity of them at once and only slowly can I build up a sizeable collection I can be proud of, so thank you for putting yours up. Not too long too wait to see them again sigh. I`ll admit theirs are the shoots I look for every morning.