Growing Peonies: Tips & Common Mistakes
Peonies are a fan favorite at Sweet Earth Co. — and we understand why! They’re big, beautiful blooms with an amazing scent that make the perfect focal flower in many types of arrangements.
Today we’re covering our best tips for growing peonies — along with a couple common mistakes to avoid.
Tip #1: Sun & Soil Conditions
When selecting the site for your peonies, ensure that it gets 6-8 hours of sun per day. While some peonies can grow with less sun, most varieties do best with full sun. If you want your plant to give the most blooms possible, grow it in full sun.
When selecting your site, you’ll also want to make sure the soil is well-draining. Peonies won’t like any standing water.
Tip #2: Space the Plants
When planting your peonies, space them about 3-4 feet apart — and 3-4 feet away from other plants. This ensures the plants won’t be competing for resources. Adequate spacing also allows for maximum air circulation and prevents the spread of disease if one plant becomes unhealthy.
Tip #3: Support the Peonies
Because peonies are a heavier plant, you may need to stake them to provide support as they grow.
At Sweet Earth, we harvest our blooms before they are fully open, so we do not need to stake them to support them.
Mistake #1: Planting Too Deeply
A mistake to avoid when planting peonies is planting them too deeply. Peonies grow from tubers, so you’ll want to plant them a couple inches below the soil surface. Any deeper than that and the tuber may not bloom properly.
Mistake #2: Planting in Spring
It’s easy to think spring is the time for planting, but you’ll actually want to plant the tubers in the fall. This allows the plant to establish roots before winter and produce blooms in the spring. Aim to plant your tubers in September or October.
Additionally, it will take about three years for your peony plants to reach full maturity, and it’s advisable to limit cutting the blooms for bouquets until the plant is mature.
