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Peony Margaret Truman produces large pink flowers. Looks good in flower beds, in compositions, and also as a cut flower. This is a very winter-hardy plant, which is quite easy to care for. The basic rules of planting and cultivation are described in the presented material.
How the variety appeared
Not much is known about the origin of the Margareth Truman variety. The peony was obtained by the Dutch breeder Van der Volk in 1953. Moreover, it initially spread not only to the Netherlands, but also to the USA. Over time, the flower appeared in many other European countries.
In Russia they learned about it relatively recently. However, the Margaret Truman peony has become widespread due to its exceptional winter hardiness - it can withstand down to -40 degrees. In addition, the variety is valued for its decorative qualities. The culture has very large flowers and a beautiful bush.
Description of peony Margaret Truman with photo
Peony variety Margaret Truman is a perennial herbaceous plant. This is a fairly large bush that produces flower stalks 80-90 cm high.The shoots are straight, dark green, well leafy. The leaf plates are the same shade, the surface is glossy, glistens in the sun. That is why the shrub remains decorative throughout the season, and not just during flowering.
When planting the Margaret Truman peony, you need to take into account that it spreads about 1 m wide. Therefore, the minimum radius that needs to be left from the center of the hole is 50 cm.
Margaret Truman peony flowers are very large, reaching 14-15 cm in diameter. They are terry in type. This means that the inflorescence consists of numerous petals, which are arranged in several rows. Thanks to this, the buds look very voluminous. They are well suited for garden decoration and also for cutting. The color is solid pink, rich. The middle is a little paler than the edges.
This allows it to be grown with minimal shelter in almost all Russian regions, including the Urals and Siberia.
Timing and flowering period
Peony Margaret Truman belongs to varieties with medium flowering periods. It produces buds from late spring to early July. It may bloom a little later, depending on the climate of the region, weather, soil composition and care. The duration of flowering of the variety also varies greatly - from 1 to 3 weeks. Sometimes it takes up to a month.
Advantages and disadvantages
Peony Margaret Truman is suitable for lovers of bright pink flowers. We can say that it looks more original compared to red varieties and brighter when compared to white ones. The plant is winter-hardy and drought-resistant. Therefore, even a novice gardener can cope with its cultivation.
Peony Margaret Truman is valued for its large, bright flowers
Pros:
- beautiful glossy leaves;
- excellent for cutting;
- long flowering;
- drought resistance;
- winter hardiness.
Minuses:
- unstable to some diseases;
- The bush is quite spreading.
Subtleties of landing
It is better to plan planting the Margaret Truman peony in the spring - approximately from the end of April to mid-May, when the soil warms up to -10 degrees and above. You can check this by burying the thermometer to a depth of 15-20 cm and taking readings after 10 minutes.
When choosing a place for the Margaret Truman peony, you should consider several requirements:
- Good lighting - the area should be completely open. Only weak partial shade at midday is allowed, for example, from a tall bush.
- Light and fertile soil, preferably loam. It is very important that the reaction is neutral or slightly acidic. Otherwise, the Margaret Truman peony will grow poorly and bloom poorly.
- No stagnation of water - most cultivated plants cannot withstand the accumulation of moisture in the lowlands, so it is better to choose hills.
- If possible, it is worth considering a site that is inaccessible to strong winds.
The site for planting the Margaret Truman peony is first prepared. Form a flowerbed, clean the surface, dig up. At the same time, complex mineral or organic fertilizer is applied. If there is too much clay in the soil, you will also need to add sand, sawdust or vermiculite - 2 kg per 1 m2.
When planting a peony, Margaret Truman acts as follows:
- Mark a hole approximately 60 cm deep and wide.
- Neighboring holes are dug at a distance of at least 80-100 cm.
- Small stones are placed at the bottom, then fertile soil is covered.
- A seedling is planted in the center and the roots are straightened.
- Sprinkle with soil and compact so that the root collar goes to a shallow depth of up to 5 cm.
- Then water it with pre-settled water and mulch after a few days.
Peony Margaret Truman grows well in lighted areas
Care instructions
Caring for the crop is quite simple. Peony Margaret Truman tolerates not only frosts, but also droughts. However, for abundant flowering, it is advisable to water it weekly with settled water, trying to give it strictly to the root.
Fertilizing is applied several times per season:
- When the snow melts, scatter urea granules - 15 g per 1 m2.
- During the formation of peony buds, Margaret Truman is watered with a solution of complex fertilizer, for example, azofoska.
- A similar composition is applied two more times with an interval of two weeks. Moreover, it can be replaced with organic matter, for example, potassium humate or bird droppings 1:20.
The soil is loosened as necessary. It is especially important to do this after heavy rain or watering to prevent excessive compaction. If there are weeds, they are carefully removed. The mulch should also be changed periodically. When the flower stalks fade, they need to be trimmed
Preparing for winter
Since the plant is winter-hardy, it does not need special preparation. With the onset of the first frost, it is enough to cut the Margaret Truman peony almost flush with the ground and cover it with dry mulch or straw. In March, the shelter is removed to prevent overheating.
How does it reproduce
You can breed the Margaret Truman peony in all available ways:
- using stem cuttings;
- layering;
- dividing the bush.
The stems are cut from young shoots at the end of spring (about 15 cm in length).They are planted in moist, fertile soil and covered with a jar. Water and ventilate regularly, and after 1.5 months the shelter is completely removed. In the fall, they are moved to a permanent place and covered for the winter.
Peony is propagated by layering in early spring. They dig trenches, pin down healthy shoots, and cover them with soil. Throughout the season they are well fed and watered. Then they are cut off from the mother bush, planted in another place and covered for the winter.
Dividing a bush is a suitable method for propagating adult plants at least 5 years old. In the fall, they are carefully dug up, divided into several parts, and the cuts are sprinkled with wood ash. They are transplanted to a new place, with the onset of the first frosts they are pruned and covered.
They begin dividing the bush in September
Disease and pest control
Peony Margaret Truman can suffer from various diseases, especially if the summer was too rainy and warm. Sometimes the leaves of the shrub begin to turn yellow or become covered with spots or plaque. This indicates the spread of powdery mildew or other fungal infections. For treatment, treat sick and healthy shrubs with a fungicide solution:
- "Abiga Peak";
- "Ridomil Gold";
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "Tattu."
Of the insects, spider mites and aphids are especially dangerous for the Margaret Truman peony. They are fought with insecticides:
- "Colorado";
- "Inta-Vir";
- "Ephoria";
- "Karbofos".
Measures should also be taken to prevent slug and snail infestations. For this purpose, special preparations are used, for example, “Thunderstorm” or “Ulitsid”. As a preventative measure, you can scatter eggshells, nutshells, ground red pepper or powdered mustard around the flowerbed.
Application in design
Peony Margaret Truman looks spectacular in single plantings. It can be used to decorate the lawn, recreation areas, and all kinds of flower beds. Flowers and other ornamental crops are often planted next to peonies:
- phlox;
- roses;
- clematis;
- junipers;
- thuja.
Peonies look beautiful in mixborders, to highlight the borders of a flower garden, in multi-tiered flower beds, on the shore of a country pond. Some options for using the Margaret Truman variety in garden design are presented below:
- Single landing.
- Planting next to the lawn.
- Against a background of bushes.
Conclusion
Peony Margaret Truman is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and beauty. Its powerful peduncles are quite tall, with beautiful glossy foliage and large flowers. They don’t give off a special aroma, but they look beautiful in flowerbeds and in bouquets. To ensure long flowering, it is recommended to regularly water the plants and feed them with complex fertilizers.
