Peony Miss America (Paeonia Miss America)
Content:
The Miss America peony is one of the representatives of the herbaceous culture. Despite the fact that this variety was bred a long time ago, it has not lost its relevance until now. Such popularity of the species is due to the long and lush flowering. It is an irreplaceable perennial in gardening a garden plot, because the peony bush retains its decorative effect throughout the season.
Peony Miss America (Paeonia Miss America) - what is this variety
This type of crop was obtained through the efforts of two American breeders. In 1956, this variety was appreciated, for which he received the gold medal of the American Peony Society. And 15 years later, he repeated his success and re-won this award for abundant flowering and beauty.
The Miss America peony is distinguished by its bubbly white flowers.
Brief description, characteristic
The Miss America peony is characterized by a compact, semi-circular bush. The plant forms erect, strong shoots that easily withstand the load during flowering and do not lean to the ground even after rain. Therefore, this variety does not need additional support.
The height and diameter of the American hybrid varies between 60-90 cm. The shoots are weakly branched, large leaves are located in the lower part. The plates are triple triple dark green with a glossy sheen. With the arrival of autumn, they acquire a bronze tint.
The Miss America peony, like other herbaceous peonies, has 3 types of roots: thick tuberous, medium adventitious and thin absorbent. Thanks to this, an adult bush is able to provide itself with moisture and the necessary nutrition on its own. In the upper part of the root system, there are recovery buds, from which new shoots grow every spring.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The Paeonia Miss America flower has certain pros and cons. Therefore, when choosing this variety, they must be taken into account.
The main advantages of the view:
- long flowering period;
- high decorative qualities;
- does not require a garter;
- suitable for landscaping the site and cutting;
- not picky about leaving;
- does not suffer from low temperatures.
The disadvantages of the variety include poor flowering when planting in partial shade and non-observance of the rules of care. But this can be avoided if you adhere to the basic rules of cultivation.
Use in landscape design
This peony is an excellent option for garden landscaping. He can act as a tapeworm on a green lawn or participate in a multi-level composition.
The plant looks good in combination with other types of crops, characterized by bright red or wine shades of petals. At the same time, it is recommended to plant different varieties in a checkerboard pattern.
As an accompaniment for this peony, there can be:
- primroses;
- geycher;
- tulips;
- daffodils;
- carnations;
- bells;
- lilies;
- irises.
Growing a flower, how to plant it in open ground
In order for the peony to grow fully and eventually bloom luxuriantly, it is necessary to initially correctly plant. Any ignorance of the requirements of the culture can negatively affect the development of the bush.
Planting by root cuttings
This method is considered to be the most common. Planting with root cuttings guarantees the preservation of all the species qualities of the peony.
It is necessary to choose a cutting with well-developed large and small roots. And also pay attention to the presence of recovery buds, from which shoots will subsequently grow. In this case, the root cutting should not be overdried and not have cracks and signs of disease damage.
What time is the boarding
It is recommended to plant this herbaceous peony in the first half of April or postpone the procedure until September. The second option is preferable, since this makes it possible for the plant to use all its strength for rooting and not waste it on building up shoots.
Location selection
This perennial prefers open, sunny areas. Therefore, it should not be planted near tall crops that will create shade for it.
This variety reacts negatively not only to a lack, but also to an excess of moisture in the soil. Therefore, when planting, it is necessary to take into account the level of occurrence of groundwater at the site. It should be at least 1.2-1.5 m.
How to prepare the soil and flower for planting
The site for the peony should be prepared 2 weeks in advance. To do this, you need to dig it to the depth of a shovel and carefully select the roots of the weeds. Then dig a hole 60 cm wide and deep. And lay broken brick on the bottom as drainage.
The variety prefers to grow on loam
The rest of the space should be filled with nutritious soil. To do this, you need to mix the following components:
- peat - 1 tsp;
- turf - 2 hours;
- sand - 1 tsp;
- humus - 1 tsp
You also need to add 40 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium sulphide.
The root stalk of a peony must also be prepared. To do this, it is necessary to soak it in water for 10-12 hours before planting in order to activate growth processes in tissues.
Planting procedure step by step
Planting a peony is carried out according to the standard scheme. But, at the same time, it is important to observe some features.
Algorithm of actions:
- Place the cutting in the center of the planting hole so that the recovery buds are 3 cm below the soil level.
- Spread the roots.
- Fill the voids with earth.
- Tamp the surface.
- Water abundantly.
Planting with seeds (for breeding)
This method is recommended if you want to get completely new types of peony. Indeed, when planting with seeds, the species qualities of the mother plant are not preserved.
This method is laborious, therefore it requires patience and endurance. To do this, you will need to collect ripe seeds or purchase them. After that, they must first undergo thermal stratification and then cold stratification.
For sowing, pick up wide, but shallow containers and fill them with wet sand. Then spread the seeds on the surface at a distance of 1-2 cm. Sprinkle them with sand and slightly moisten them from a spray bottle. Cover containers with glass or plastic and place in a warm place. The temperature during this period should be 25-30 degrees during the day and 15 at night.
After that, the plants must undergo cold stratification. To do this, you need to get the seedlings out of the wet sand, pinch the root and transplant them into the nutrient soil.Then the plants need to be kept for about 3 months at a temperature of 6-10 degrees. After this time, shoots should begin to grow.
Only now the seedlings should be rearranged in a warm place until they are strong enough to be transplanted into open ground.
Plant care
When growing this peony, you should follow the standard care rules. If you ignore them, you can never wait for a lush bloom.
- Watering and feeding
The peony does not tolerate drying out of the roots, so the soil should always be slightly damp. In the absence of rain, the plant should be watered 1-2 times a week, pouring 2 buckets of water under the bush.
Watering is recommended by sprinkling
Top dressing of bushes should be started from the age of 3. Fertilizers must be applied three times per season. The first time during the period of active growth of shoots. At this time, nitrogen and organic fertilizers should be used. The second and third time - before and after flowering. During this period, it is recommended to use phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
- Mulching and loosening
It is regularly necessary to loosen the soil in the root circle 2-3 cm deep so as not to damage the roots. This will improve the breathability of the soil. And in order to reduce moisture evaporation during dry periods, it is recommended to use mulch with a thickness of 3 cm.
- Preventive treatment
The Miss America peony is highly immune to disease. But in order to avoid possible problems, it is recommended to treat the bushes 2 times per season with such fungicides as "Skor", "Strobi".
Peony Blossom Miss America
This species belongs to the category of semi-double peonies. Forms light, airy flowers with a diameter of 20-25 cm. When the buds open, they have a pale pink tint, and then turn white.
In appearance, the flowers resemble giant rounded bowls, along the edge of which are folded light petals, and in the center are bright yellow stamens and light green pistils. This beauty is perfectly complemented by a pleasant refined aroma.
A period of activity and rest
Peony America is considered medium early. Its flowering period begins in the second half of May or early June, depending on the region of cultivation. The flowering of the plant lasts 1.5-2 months.
Each flower retains its decorative effect for 7-10 days.
At the end of this period, the bush retains a presentable appearance due to its beautiful foliage. And only with the arrival of frost does the aboveground part die off. The peony stays at rest until the end of March, and then begins the growing season.
Care during and after flowering
Miss America requires care throughout her developmental life. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the soil is always slightly moist, since the growth of shoots and buds of the current year, but also the next, depends on this.
During and after flowering, this perennial must also be fertilized regularly, loosened at the base and, if necessary, treated against diseases and pests.
What to do if it does not bloom, possible reasons
Sometimes you can hear that this species has poor flowering or it is completely absent. The main reason for this is non-compliance with plant maintenance requirements.
The lack of flowering can lead to:
- landing in a shaded place;
- drying out of the roots;
- lack of nutrition.
If the problems began only over time, then most likely the bush needs rejuvenation.
Every 7-10 years, the peony bush needs to be transplanted to a new place.
Peonies after flowering
At the end of flowering, you need to perform a series of actions, which will allow the peony to painlessly survive the winter. During this period, it is also necessary to carry out, if necessary, a division of the bush or a transplant. Since this will allow the plant to adapt much faster in a new place.
- Transfer
Peony America should be replanted in late August or early September. To do this, you need to dig up the plant, thoroughly clean it from the ground and rinse the roots under water. Then you should put the bush in a shaded place for 2 hours, so that it softens slightly.
After the lapse of time, use a sharp knife to divide the queen cell into several parts and put it in a permanent place.
- Pruning
In a peony, every year the aerial part dies off by winter. Therefore, in late autumn, you need to cut off all the shoots of the plant at a height of 3 cm from the soil surface. This will redirect the strength of the plant to deepening the root system before winter.
Preparing for winter
According to the description, the Miss America peony is highly frost-resistant. But in the case of a snowless winter, the recovery buds may freeze. Therefore, in order to prevent this, it is recommended to cover the roots with a layer of humus 7-10 cm thick.
Diseases, pests and ways to control them
The Miss America peony is rarely affected by pests and diseases. But sometimes, when the conditions do not match, his immunity weakens.
This leads to the development of such diseases:
- gray rot;
- powdery mildew;
- rust.
To prevent damage, it is necessary to remove weeds in the near-trunk circle throughout the season, and in autumn to remove the foliage and plant stems from the site. Also in the spring, treat young shoots with fungicides.
During the flowering period, ants and bronzes may appear on the peony. To scare them away, it is recommended to use a saturated garlic solution. If necessary, bronzes should also be collected by hand.
Peony Miss America is a wonderful snow-white flower that can become a real pride of a gardener. Taking care of him is not too difficult. Moreover, any work will be rewarded with a beautiful plant.
