Description of peonies "Peter brand" and rules of care

Terry peonies of the Peter Brand variety can surprise at first glance, because in addition to a bright ruby ​​hue, they look truly exotic. Peonies of this variety are widely grown in our country, not only in greenhouse conditions, but also in ordinary soil, mainly in colorful flower beds. Florists especially love this variety for its unpretentiousness in planting and care. Next, we will take a closer look at the description of peonies of the "Peter Brand" variety, get acquainted with its origin, characteristics and planting requirements.

Peonies "Peter brand" belong to varietal herbaceous perennial plants. They were bred by Dutch breeders. They are considered unpretentious to care for and perfectly adaptable to different weather conditions. They are also considered winter hardy.

The stems can reach 85-100 cm in height. The flowers of peonies are simple semi-double, they are quite large, as if curling, which creates the illusion of a special splendor of the flower. They have a deep red color, very similar to ruby. The flowers are no more than 18 cm in diameter. In the middle of the flower, you can see thin yellowish stamens. The leaves are dark green in color, they are dissected, like many similar varietal peonies.

Peonies bloom in late spring and early summer, depending on weather conditions. They have a very faint, subtle aroma.

The charming Peter Brand flowers have a satin tint, and therefore look great in single planting, in flower beds in combination with other plants and groups on the lawn as a complement to landscape design.

Mostly peonies of the "Peter Brand" variety prefer partial shade and sunny areas, but not under the direct rays of the scorching sun.

The soil for peonies should be chosen with great care. Moderately dry soil is preferred. It should be fresh and with all the nutrients and minerals it needs. That is why, when planting in the ground, it is very important to properly prepare the soil 7-10 days in advance, including fertilizing it. However, if the soil is good, then in the first year and in the next few years, it may not be fertilized.

The planting itself is carried out in the spring season or in the fall. It is recommended to prepare the soil for 10-20 days, namely: holes for planting. The planting scheme is usually 50 by 50 or 60 by 60 cm. Planting should be medium, not low and not too high, otherwise, instead of flowering, peonies will begin to grow abundantly greenery, that is, leaves.

One very important point should be noted that concerns varietal peonies. Sometimes, after planting in the first year, they may not bloom. This is normal for plants, since this is a kind of adaptation period for them. As a rule, with proper and high-quality care, all subsequent years the plant will delight with its abundant flowering.

Propagate "Peter brand" by dividing the bush. To do this, you need to dig up an adult shrub and cut off the stems from it, that is, divide it into parts. On each part, the bulb of the mother plant and part of the root system should remain. Then young seedlings are planted.They are buried according to the scheme given above, and they are watered abundantly. Young tubers should be buried no more than 5 cm below the ground.

Usually in the autumn season, when the first frosts come, the stems of the peonies are cut off, while small stumps of only a few centimeters should be left above the buds. Despite the fact that peonies overwinter well, it is best to cover them to insure the plants. This is done using a good peat layer or compost. This applies to young plants. Adult plants do not need to be covered.

Watering peonies should always be moderate., regardless of whether they are gaining buds or are already blooming. It is very important to control the soil so that it does not dry out, but it is strictly forbidden to overflow it. Despite the fact that peonies are considered very water-loving plants, they simply cannot tolerate stagnant water at the roots. The roots of the plant can begin to rot, moreover, peonies can start to get sick with a fungal infection.

For high-quality growth of peonies, the soil around the plants can be mulched. Mulch can be used ready-made, it is sold in all gardening stores, or you can use what may be at hand. Sawdust, gravel, hay, sand are good for mulch. In spring, plants are best fertilized with complex mineral fertilizers. So the flowering will be better, and the peonies themselves will look healthy, because after winter they are sorely lacking.

Depending on the growing conditions, peonies bloom from one week to two. It is recommended to cut them with a clean and treated with an antiseptic pruning shears.

Like any other herbaceous plants, peonies are not immune to pests and any diseases.

With excessive use of dressings, abundant and uncontrolled watering, the peonies will surely start to hurt. The main diseases to which peonies of the "Peter Brand" variety are susceptible are:

• gray rot;
• powdery mildew;
• rust;
• Lemoine's disease and some others.

The causes of a particular disease may be different. Therefore, at the first appearance of unusual spots on the leaves or when signs of wilting are found, the plant should be immediately treated. First of all, you need to control watering, then you should change the dressing and, finally, choose a remedy for treatment. If we are talking about fungal diseases such as gray rot, then fungicidal agents for plants will help.

If insects and other pests such as ants are found, which are just very fond of settling on peonies, whiteflies, aphids, nematodes, thrips or bronzes, it is very important to take emergency measures to destroy them. Otherwise, they will slowly destroy the plants. If a bronze or scabbard attacked, then for a start the pests should be collected manually, and only then start using professional products or herbal infusions.

But aphids or whiteflies can be poisoned immediately using a selected insecticide. As a rule, insects fly to peonies from neighboring plants, which is why, in order to prevent re-infection, a comprehensive treatment should be done.

See the next video for caring for peonies.