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Peony Primavera is a popular flower that many gardeners grow. This is due to their good adaptive abilities and ease of care. When flowering, such a peony will definitely become a beautiful decoration in a flowerbed or local area. If the instructions are strictly followed, even inexperienced gardeners can grow such a plant.
Description of the herbaceous peony Primavera
This is a perennial plant that was bred by breeders in 1907 in France. The flower has gained popularity among gardeners all over the world in a short period of time.
Representatives of the Primavera variety reach a height of 90 cm. The plant has a thick and strong stem with one, or rarely several, inflorescences. The shoot is covered with numerous green lanceolate-shaped leaves. Despite the fact that the stem is strong, the plant needs a garter when growing, which allows the bush to give a neat appearance.
Peonies are among the light-loving flowers. However, the Primavera variety can also be grown in shaded areas. It is enough that a little sunlight falls on the plant during the day.
Despite the strong stems of the peony, it needs to be tied up
The peculiarity of the Primavera variety is its endurance to unfavorable conditions. It has good frost resistance, so they can be grown in any region, especially with a warm or temperate climate. Equally important is that “Primavera” is resistant to diseases common among other ornamental plants.
Features of flowering
Healthy bushes grow several stems. Single or, in rare cases, numerous inflorescences appear on each of them. They are large in size and reach 20 cm in diameter.
Anemone-type flowers. The lower petals are wide, growing in 1-2 rows. Those located higher have a narrow, short, rounded shape. This is explained by the fact that the Primavera variety was obtained by crossing terry and Japanese peony.
The color of the flowers is unique. In the middle the petals are yellowish, and those surrounding them are white or pinkish. The splendor of flowering depends on the age of the bush. Typically, the largest buds grow on peonies from five years old. Plants grown in soil for less than 2 years do not bloom.
The buds are pale cream or pale pink in color
The milky-flowering peony Primavera blooms mainly in late spring. If warming comes late, the deadline may shift to early summer. Flowering duration usually does not exceed 3 weeks.
Application in design
Peonies of the Primavera variety are often used for decorative purposes. They are used to decorate flower beds, borders and create flower arrangements. Due to its high growth, the Primavera variety is used to create hedges.But most often they are used as a central decoration, with other ornamental plants planted around them.
A flower arrangement with Primavera peonies will be well complemented by:
- white and yellow roses;
- lilies;
- phlox;
- chrysanthemums;
- asters;
- zinnias;
- petunias;
- nasturtiums
It is not recommended to grow the plant next to flowers from the Ranunculaceae family. They quickly deplete the soil, and their roots secrete enzymes that negatively affect other plants.
Peonies can decorate any flowerbed and garden plot
When composing flower arrangements, you should remember that peonies always occupy a dominant position. In addition, these are perennial bushes that love moisture and need a lot of space.
Reproduction methods
The main method is dividing the bush. This option is suitable for specimens that have reached the age of 6-7 years. Choose a bush with several stems. They dig it up, divide the rhizome, after which each sprout is planted in a new, previously prepared place.
The bush can be propagated by division, carefully separating the tubers
Another propagation option is layering. To do this, choose a bush with several stems and cover them with a layer of fertile soil. The layer should reach 25-30 cm in height. In the summer after flowering, the hilled stems form root layers. Then they are cut and planted in fresh soil.
Landing rules
For Primavera peonies, you need to choose the right site. Well-lit areas protected from strong winds are best. Then the plant forms roots and develops faster.
It is better to plant a peony in autumn or spring before the buds open.
Spring planting is not recommended. This is explained by the fact that at this time of year the peony begins to form a shoot faster than the root system. Because of this, it becomes fragile and sensitive. The bush weakens and does not bloom in the future.
The key to success when growing peonies is proper planting. Having chosen a place, you need to prepare the soil. After this, you can send the seedling into the ground.
Landing algorithm:
- For each bush, dig a hole 50-60 cm deep and wide.
- Place a drainage layer of gravel, expanded clay or crushed stone at the bottom.
- Mix garden soil, half a bucket of humus, add 100 g of superphosphate.
- Fill the hole with the resulting mixture and cover it with a layer of mulch.
- Leave for 4-5 days.
- Dig a shallow hole, place the seedling, and bury it.
- The height of the soil layer above the tubers is no more than 6 cm.
When planting, seedlings need to be watered with a small amount of soft, settled water. In this case, you should make sure that the liquid is well absorbed and does not stagnate.
Aftercare
Representatives of the Primavera variety are considered unpretentious. However, in the first year after planting in open ground, they need careful care. It is recommended to tie up young bushes, as they can be damaged even by gentle winds.
Care also includes:
- Regular watering - 10 liters of settled water for each bush.
- Loosening the top layer of soil - once every 2-3 weeks to enrich the soil with oxygen.
- Systematic removal of weeds.
- Feeding the soil with complex fertilizers - every month before wintering.
In the spring, after the snow melts, fertilize with nitrogen-potassium fertilizers. Each bush requires 15-20 g of solution. The second feeding is after 2 months. Compositions with phosphorus and potassium are used. A similar procedure is repeated 2 weeks after flowering, when bud formation occurs.
It is better to plant the plant in loamy soil, in which water does not stagnate.
Adult bushes need to be watered once every 10 days. Each plant will require 20 liters of water. The soil is loosened once a month. Peat, straw or dry compost are used for mulching.
General principles of caring for different varieties of peonies:
Preparing for winter
A few weeks after flowering ends, you need to remove dried leaves from the bush. The remaining stems continue to be cared for until October. When they turn whitish and lose their freshness, they are also cut off.
Despite its frost resistance, the plant must be covered with sawdust or spruce branches in the cold season
To strengthen the plant before wintering, you need to additionally fertilize the soil. Superphosphate is used for this. For 1 bush take 8 liters of warm water and 1 spoon of fertilizer. First, the flower is watered with ordinary liquid, then the solution is introduced.
Mature plants do not need shelter. They tolerate severe frosts well. Peonies up to 2 years old should be covered with sawdust mixed with peat after pruning.
Pests and diseases
When growing Primavera peonies, gardeners may encounter certain difficulties.Despite its unpretentiousness and resistance to adverse conditions, such a plant can get sick. This is usually caused by violation of planting and care rules.
The most common problem is root rot. It appears due to excessive soil moisture. This occurs due to improper watering regime or due to stagnation of liquid. In such cases, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil to improve the outflow of water.
Due to improper care, Primavera peonies may develop fungal diseases:
- powdery mildew;
- gray rot;
- late blight;
- Fusarium
To treat such diseases, damaged parts of the plant must be removed. Fungicides are also used that suppress pathogenic microorganisms.
Common pests of Primavera peonies include aphids, thrips and bronze beetles. During treatment, peonies during the growing season should be sprayed with Karbofos solution.
Bronze beetles can be removed from flowers by hand
Flower rhizomes can be attacked by nematodes. This is rare and is usually caused by other plants being nearby. In case of damage, the bush will have to be removed so that the worms do not spread to neighboring specimens.
Conclusion
Peony Primavera is intended for growing in open areas. The flower is easy to care for, so it is popular among gardeners. If you follow the basic rules of planting, watering and fertilizing, a peony will live up to 20 years. Thanks to regular and abundant flowering, “Primavera” will become an excellent decoration for a flower bed or summer cottage.
