Content
Growing flowers is, at first glance, an ordinary task. But professionals have a different opinion about this, because a gardener needs to know everything about the features of planting and caring for crops, and be able to correctly combine and propagate them. Peony First Arrival is widely used due to its versatility and low requirements.
History of appearance
The culture was bred by a group of breeders - Anderson. Popular hybrids took part in the development, so the First Arrival peony belongs to the ITO group. The culture has been included in botanical literature since 1986.
Description of peony First Arrival with photo
The plant is a low shrub that grows up to 85 cm. Some specimens may be taller, mainly depending on the characteristics of growth. The stems of the peony First Arrival (Itoh First Arrival) have a powerful structure, which has a beneficial effect on survival even in conditions of regular winds.
The bushes become lush thanks to the large number of leaves.They are cut into several lobes and look very neat.
The plates can be green or light green, this is influenced by the nature of the lighting
Semi-double flowers of First Arrival are characterized by large sizes - up to 24 cm in diameter. In nurseries you can find even larger specimens. On the petals it is easy to notice a gentle shift from lavender to pink; due to ultraviolet radiation, some areas may fade, becoming completely light. At the same time, First Arrival is considered a monochromatic plant.
Features of flowering
Peony First Arrival is an early flowering variety. Budding begins in early summer and lasts about a month. At this time, the bushes reveal their decorative potential.
Frost resistance
First Arrival was developed as a winter-hardy variety. It can easily withstand temperatures down to -35 degrees. In areas with harsh climates, peonies are recommended to be covered.
Growing regions
The southern and central parts of the Russian Federation are considered favorable areas for growing First Arrival. The plant is also cultivated in the northern regions - in the Urals and Siberia.
Advantages and disadvantages
Peonies have huge buds that can be seen even if you are in the far corner of the garden. The flowers bloom together, so the flowering is full.
Among the advantages, it is worth emphasizing First Arrival’s endurance to external factors
Pros:
- winter hardiness;
- compactness;
- strong stems;
- delicate color;
- pleasant aroma.
Minuses:
- the petals brighten in the sun.
Landing rules
Peony First Arrival loves sunlight, but the gardener needs to choose the site carefully.There should not be too much sun so that the buds do not burn out. Shady places are also not entirely suitable for planting, so peonies are not placed under the crowns of bushes and trees.
The substrate should be neutral in acidity, moderately loose and slightly moist. If the soil is not rich in nutrients, fertilizers are applied a month before rooting. To do this, dig a hole 60 x 60, fill it with pebbles, peat, sand and compost. All this is thoroughly mixed and watered.
When the time for planting comes, the seedling is placed in relation to the hole so that the lower buds are in the ground at a distance of 30-35 mm from the surface. Then the gardener will need to compact the area (with hands or with a tool) and water the seedlings well.
Care instructions
ITO-hybrid does not require special care
First Arrival is cared for in the same way as other peonies. Experts recommend not to overwater the plants, as they do not tolerate waterlogging. Watering is carried out as the upper layers of the soil dry out, the average period is 7-10 days. In this case, water should not touch the green parts of the First Arrival, otherwise burns may occur.
If First Arrival peonies are not mulched, you will need to regularly weed the root zone and loosen it. The tool is buried no more than 5 cm to avoid damage to the underground part.
Preparing for winter
Peonies are frost-resistant plants, but they need to be prepared for the changing seasons.
First, the summer resident must shorten the stems, leaving stumps (3 cm) near the ground. To prevent First Arrival from becoming infected with fungus, the cuts are sprinkled with wood ash. The removed tops are burned or thrown away - they are a suitable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.
Secondly, cut peony stems should be covered with mulch. If the soil is prone to acidification, you should stop using spruce branches as a mulching material. Old mulch must be renewed and the layer must be increased to 15 cm.
Thirdly, newly planted seedlings must be protected for the winter with agrofibre. Any non-woven fabric can be used. With the onset of a thaw, the shelter is removed to avoid damping out.
Reproduction methods
First Arrival is recommended to be propagated by dividing the underground part. The stem cutting method is also open to more experienced gardeners.
Seeds are used as planting material only by botanists - they do not have high germination rates and cannot inherit parental characteristics
The division is carried out as follows:
- they dig up First Arrival peonies over 5 years old;
- wash the root system with warm water;
- dry to minimize breakage;
- cut off part of the roots with renewal buds;
- treat the sections with a disinfectant;
- The cuttings are planted in a permanent place.
After propagation, the daughter peonies need to be watered.
First Arrival cuttings are a more complex process. If, when dividing, flowering could be expected by the next year, then when growing cuttings, budding occurs only in the sixth year.
The technique is as follows:
- cut off the shoots of faded First Arrival peonies;
- immerse the lower ends of the cuttings in Kornevin;
- plant the material in a container;
- cover with film and take care of it;
- After the leaves form, remove the cover.
A year later, First Arrival peonies are transplanted outside.
Diseases and pests
First Arrival can become infected with rust, botrytis, and powdery mildew. The risk increases in wet weather or when watering standards are not observed. To prevent diseases from disturbing peonies, flowers are treated with the prophylactic agent Fitosporin.
When affected by rust, you can observe how peony leaves curl and red spots appear on their surface.
When infected with rust, leaves fall and the crop dies.
Botrytis is a serious disease that manifests itself as rot on the root part of peonies. It is difficult to localize in the early stages of infection, and more often you have to wait until the symptoms (brown spots) appear on the shoots.
Affected leaves must be cut off and burned, and the remaining areas treated with Pure Flower
Powdery mildew is a white coating that appears due to waterlogging; adult peonies usually suffer from the disease.
To restore First Arrival, treatment is carried out with Skor.
The health of peonies can be undermined by pests. Among them:
- ants;
- aphid;
- golden bronze.
Insects weaken the plant and make it vulnerable to disease. Ants are attracted to the sap of the buds, so they can most often be found during the flowering period.
Control ants with Barguzin
Aphids feed on any shoots and can appear in both spring and summer
The parasite settles on the tops of bushes and is easy to detect, despite its tiny size. If there is a small number of insects, First Arrival is treated with a soap solution, otherwise the insecticide Alatar is used.
The golden bronze beetle is a beetle with an insatiable appetite that devours leaves, stems and flowers. Appears from May to August.
Get rid of the pest - bronzes with the help of Decis
Application in landscape design
Peonies always decorate the garden to their advantage. They look good both in single plantings and in a flower bed with other plants.
Solitaire placement
Hedge
Against the background of small plants
Conclusion
Peony First Arrival has a sweet aroma that is loved by both humans and insects. Not all of the latter are useful, like bees or butterflies. In order for the plant to remain healthy, it is necessary to devote enough time to prevention.
Reviews from gardeners about peony First Arrival
