All summer residents actively use perennial flowers for site design. Peonies are among the ten most popular plants. They have many advantages, which include abundant flowering, beautiful appearance and a refined aroma of the plant. Not everyone knows about the herbaceous peony Solange, but its excellent characteristics speak in favor of choosing this variety.
Description and features
The main advantages of the Solange variety are that:
- bush height is about a meter;
- forms a spreading bush, strong stems;
- leaves are green, fleshy, cut, up to 30 centimeters long;
- The diameter of the double flower is 19 centimeters.
The color of the peony is delicate with shades of pink and cream. It is the flowers that give the entire plant a decorative appearance. Sometimes the stems bend under the weight of the spherical buds. Many terry petals of cream, pink or snow-white purity attract attention with their unique aroma.
The variety belongs to the late types of ornamental crops, so the petals do not fall off for a long time and last until mid-summer.
The powerful root system of peony allows the perennial to grow in one place for a long time. The crop can withstand severe frosts and is not afraid of heavy rains.
Landing
For a flowering perennial, it is important to choose the right place to grow. Once established, the Solange peony will delight you with flowering for 15-20 years.
Deadlines
It is best to plant a flower in spring or autumn. Spring planting should take place in April, when the soil warms up to 10 degrees Celsius.
In the middle zone, it is preferable to plant peony in late summer - early autumn. During this period, the crop is dormant, and therefore the seedlings will easily take root.
Selecting a location
For Peony Solange you need a place where:
- sunny;
- no stagnation of water;
- soil with neutral acidity.
You can plant plants where there is a little shade. But in constant shading the bushes will not bloom for a long time.
Soil requirements
Loamy soil is suitable for varietal herbaceous peony. It must contain humus. Before planting, mix with soil, in addition to 100 grams of humus, 300 grams of wood ash, 200 grams of superphosphate.For acidic soils, add slaked lime.
Planting scheme
The hole for the seedling is prepared in advance. The depth of the hole should be from 50 to 60 centimeters. Its width corresponds to 35-45 centimeters. It is necessary to put drainage at the bottom so that the water does not stagnate and the roots do not rot. Broken brick, expanded clay, and crushed stone are suitable for the drainage layer. Then you need a layer of river sand, and then fill the hole with a nutritious soil mixture.
Before planting, it is necessary to moisten the soil. The lower buds of the peony should not be buried, leaving them 4-5 centimeters above ground level. But the rhizome should be at a depth of 5-10 centimeters to the soil surface.
Care
Peonies need to be cared for correctly. The flowering and lifespan of ornamental bushes depend on competent agricultural technology.
Watering
For better growth and development, the Solange peony requires regular watering. It is enough to moisten the bushes 2 times a week, during dry periods - 3-4. An adult plant will need 15-20 liters of water. Take water at room temperature, well settled.
Growth stimulants
Ornamental herbaceous perennials will grow better if the roots of the seedlings are treated with growth stimulants before planting. Young peonies will bloom only 2-3 years after planting. You can speed up flowering by alternating mineral and organic fertilizers. In the spring, the sprouts are sprayed with a urea solution, taking 50 grams per 10 liters of water. Then they are treated with mineral complexes a month later and after flowering.
Top dressing
You should start feeding adult plants from the 3rd year of life. In spring, nitrogen compounds are needed to grow green mass. Urea will do, a tablespoon per bucket of water. During the appearance of buds, fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium are used.You can take 50-60 grams of nitrophoska per 10 liters of water.
When Solange peonies fade, they are watered with a nutrient solution of superphosphate and potassium salt.
Loosening and weeding
To improve soil permeability around peonies, the soil is loosened. The procedure is necessary up to 3-4 times per season. Weeds are removed at the same time. They are carriers of diseases and pests.
Trimming
Peony stems are cut in the fall after flowering has stopped and the plant is dormant. Leave stumps 3-4 centimeters high.
During the growing season, damaged, dry stems and leaves are removed. As the flowers dry, they are also removed.
Prevention of diseases and pests
Improper care provokes the development of diseases in peony. Every gardener can prevent them. It is necessary to pull out weeds in time and avoid stagnation of moisture near the bushes of the plant.
Gray rot
Sudden wilting of bushes is caused by the botrytis fungus. In this case, the stems rot and the buds become hard and black. The first step is to cut off all the affected parts of the plant and treat the bushes with fungicidal preparations such as Ridomil Gold.
Reducing soil acidity will become a preventive method against the disease. It is best to lim the soil with dolomite flour. In April, it is necessary to treat the plants with Bordeaux mixture, carrying out the next procedure after 2 weeks.
Root rot
In humid summers and flooding of the flower area, the perennial stems turn black and wilt. Bushes affected by the fungus are dug up, revealing slimy roots that emit an unpleasant odor. To avoid disease, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers should be applied on time.
Rust
The disease begins with the appearance of brown spots on the upper leaf plate. Then the foliage dries out and falls off. The spread of fungi can be prevented by timely cleaning and burning of plant residues.
Mosaic
A viral infection manifests itself during the growth of side shoots of the peony. Half rings and stripes of dark colors on the leaves alternate with light ones. Parts of the bush damaged by the disease should be cut out and the wounds sprinkled with crushed activated carbon.
Reproduction
Peony is characterized by both seed and vegetative propagation. It is better to use methods of dividing the bush or rhizome, since the varietal characteristics of the Solange peony are preserved.
Dividing the bush
In early spring, the soil is raked away from the peony bush. Use a sharp shovel to separate part of the bush along with the rhizome. The remaining part is sprinkled with earth and sawdust. Plots can also be planted in the fall.
Rhizome division
For this method, you will have to dig up 3-4 year old peonies. Before the procedure, the stems should be cut off. The dug up root is washed and slightly dried. Then, with a sharp tool, cut the rhizome into several parts. Each should have 2 additional roots 10 centimeters long and 2-3 developed eyes. Before planting, it is necessary to expose the material to the air so that the cut areas dry out..
The best time for breeding is considered to be August-September.
