Content
Peony Carol is an interspecific variety with bright double flowers. The herbaceous shrub is characterized by a high degree of frost resistance and is popular among gardeners throughout Russia. They grow crops for cutting and landscaping.
The stems of the Carol variety are straight, without bends, suitable for cutting
Description of Peony Carol
Peony Carol is a perennial herbaceous shrub with a dense spreading crown. It forms many shoots reaching a length of 80 cm. The stems are erect, hard, dark green in color. Under the weight of the flowers, the shoots droop, the bush falls apart and loses its decorative effect.
The leaf blades are dark green, lanceolate, hard, glossy, with smooth edges. The leaves are arranged alternately, the petioles are long and slightly pubescent.
Peony Carol is a sun-loving plant, so it does not tolerate shading. Only with full photosynthesis will the crop bloom profusely and quickly grow its root system and green mass. The variety is frost-resistant, resists temperatures down to -35 0C, and also has good drought resistance.
These qualities allow the Carol variety to be grown throughout temperate climates. The variety is especially popular among gardeners in European and Central Russia.
Features of flowering
Peony variety Carol, mid-early flowering. The buds form at the end of May and bloom in the first ten days of June. The life cycle of the inflorescence is 7 days, the duration of the flowering period is 15 days. Each stem produces up to three lateral shoots, and buds form on them.
Flowering is abundant, the splendor depends on timely fertilizing and sufficient lighting. If the crop is grown for cutting, the side buds are removed, then the central flower will be larger.
How the Carol variety blooms:
- the flowers are large, double, 20 cm in diameter;
- petals are bright red saturated color with a purple tint, the arrangement is folded, uneven;
- the central part is closed.
Application in design
With sufficient lighting, this decorative herbaceous shrub can be grown in flowerpots on a balcony or loggia. It is necessary to take into account that under the weight of the inflorescences, the peony falls apart and looks untidy, so you must first take care of the support. In open ground, the plant is grown for garden design, combined with many flowering crops that have the same biological requirements:
- daylilies;
- Veronica;
- bells;
- cornflowers;
- with flowering and ornamental shrubs;
- hydrangea.
Carol does not go well with roses or other red flowers, because against the background of peony they will lose their attractiveness. Peony does not get along well with juniper due to different requirements for soil composition, but it looks perfect with thuja and dwarf spruce trees.
Some examples of using the Carol variety in garden design:
- design of the central part of the lawn;
- planted in combination with different varieties of peonies to frame a flower bed;
- create a color accent in the central part of the flowerbed;
- for decorating rockeries;
A mix of different varieties of peony and daylily looks good
- planted on ridges near the building;
- included in a composition with decorative and flowering plants;
Reproduction methods
The interspecific peony variety Carol is sterile, so the plant can be propagated vegetatively.
When cutting, the material is cut from strong shoots before the budding period. They put it in water, and when root threads appear, they transfer it to the ground. It will take 3 years from the moment the material is harvested to flowering. The method is possible, but time-consuming.
The best option for propagating the elite Carol variety is by dividing an adult plant. The work is carried out in the fall, and in the spring buds will appear on the young bush.
Landing rules
Ito-hybrid Carol can be placed on the site at the beginning of the growing season, when the soil has warmed up to +10 0C. Spring work is relevant if you are planting material purchased from a nursery. The peony will bloom only after three years of growth; before winter it will have time to take root well. For plots, the optimal time is at the end of summer or early autumn. The plant will bloom next season. If you divide the mother bush in the spring, the peony will not produce buds; summer time will be spent on adaptation.
Site requirement:
- it should be a well-lit place, periodic shading is allowed;
- the soils are neutral, peony will not grow in an acidic composition, and in an alkaline composition it will not produce lush flowering and rich color of the petals;
- choose light, fertile soil; if necessary, adjust the soil by adding sand during planting and regular fertilizing;
- Do not place Carol's peony in swampy lowlands.
For planting, cuttings are used. Choose a well-grown plant that is at least three years old.
The bush is dug up and divided in such a way that each specimen has at least three vegetative buds
The soil is completely shaken off or washed off with water.
If a seedling is purchased with a closed root, it is placed in a hole along with a lump of earth.
The seedling is filled with water and carefully removed from the transport container so as not to damage the root.
Planting Peony Carol:
- the hole is prepared 2 weeks before the planned work, dug with a depth and width of 50 cm;
- the bottom is covered with drainage and a soil mixture of peat and compost, leaving 20 cm to the edge;
- After preparation, the hole is filled with water, the procedure is repeated the day before planting;
- for a peony, it is important to correctly position the buds; they are deepened no lower and no higher than 5 cm;
- To do this, place a lath on the edge of the recess and add soil;
Adjust the deepening of the buds and tie the root to the bar
- cover with turf soil mixed in equal parts with compost;
- if the buds begin to grow, their tops are left above ground level;
If the buds are deepened, the peony will not bloom this season.
Aftercare
Hybrid Carol is one of those varieties of peony for which fertilizing is necessary throughout the entire growing season, except during flowering.
Carol peony feeding schedule:
- in early spring, when the first shoots appear, potassium is added under the bush;
- at the time of bud setting, nitrogen and superphosphate are given;
- after flowering, fertilize with organic matter and ammonium nitrate, a measure necessary for laying vegetative buds for the next season;
- at the end of August, fertilize with complex mineral products;
- During preparation for winter, the Carol variety is fed with organic matter.
Watering the peony is necessary throughout the warm period. An adult bush needs 20 liters of water for 10 days. The young peony is watered to prevent compaction and waterlogging of the soil.
A prerequisite is to mulch the root circle, increase the layer of material in the fall, and completely renew it in the spring. Mulch will retain moisture and prevent the soil from drying out, eliminating the need for constant loosening of the soil.
Preparing for winter
The Carol variety is a frost-resistant crop, so an adult plant does not require careful shelter for the winter. The bush is pruned completely after the first frost, water-replenishing watering is carried out, fed with organic matter and covered with mulch.
Seedlings of the Carol variety are given an increased layer of mulch, insulated with straw, and protected on top with any covering material.
Pests and diseases
The interspecific hybrid Carol is characterized by high resistance to infections; the culture rarely gets sick. Peony easily tolerates periods of long rains; the only problem may be poorly drained soil. In conditions of excessive humidity, the bush is affected by a fungal infection (gray rot), which can only be gotten rid of by moving the bush to a dry, well-lit place.
Among the pests, the root-knot nematode may appear on the peony, which attacks the root only in constantly waterlogged soil. If the bronze beetle spreads massively in an area, the pest can also parasitize the Carol variety.
At the first signs of the appearance of insects, the bush is treated with insecticides (for example, Kinmiks)
Conclusion
Peony Carol is a herbaceous shrub with a perennial life cycle; it can bloom in one place for more than 10 years. It quickly grows the root system and green mass, the variety has intensive shoot formation and stable flowering. The flowers are large, double, dark burgundy in color. The variety is suitable for decorative gardening and arranging bouquets.
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