Peony Shirley Temple

The magnificent peony of the Shirley Temple variety was named after the popular Hollywood actress and was bred in the United States in 1948. Its advantage is its luxurious appearance. The flowers have a spherical shape and resemble roses in appearance and aroma.

Peony Shirley Temple - what kind of variety, the history of creation

The variety belongs to the class of herbaceous plants, the stems of adult flowers grow up to 90 cm, they are strong enough and do not fall under the weight of buds up to 20 cm in diameter.The buds themselves have a pink color, changing to snow-white as they bloom (at the end of May). The flowers have expressive openwork leaves of a dark green hue, in the beginning of autumn they become crimson. Due to the powerful shoots, adult bushes do not require additional support.

Peony Shirley Temple

Pros and cons

Among the advantages, a high level of frost resistance and the ability to tolerate cold up to -40 ℃ are noted. Bushes can be left for the winter without protection. Representatives of this variety are resistant to diseases and bugs. Garden plots are carefully chosen for them, as Shirley Temple peonies are perennial plants and can be cultivated for thirty years without the need for transplanting. The species has almost no drawbacks, with the exception of some requirements regarding care.

Landscape design application

Peony Shirley Temple is actively used by landscape designers to create various compositions. Due to the unpretentiousness of the variety, it is included in projects for garden plots. The culture is used as:

• single or group planting on lawns in combination with ground cover perennials;
• the middle part of a round flowerbed in combination with bright annuals;
• lush curbs of garden paths along with gladioli, digitalis or aquilegia.

The cultivation of peonies, how to plant in open soil

Shirley Temple perennial bushes do not cause problems during planting and in the growing process, if it is important to observe all the subtleties - refer to the description of the Shirley Temple peony.

Planting peonies

Planting with root cuttings

Before breeding, it is important to take a responsible approach to the choice of methodology. The best option would be a vegetative method of reproduction. The plant is planted by cuttings, the cuttings themselves are acquired in finished form, paying particular attention to the quality of planting materials. It must not contain mold and rot residues.

What period is the landing

Peony Shirley Temple is traditionally planted in the second half of August, in early September or until early November. For landing, they select places without wind and sun, with a moderately dry soil rich in nutrients.

Location selection

Paeonia Shirley Temple can not be planted in dense soil, it is best to choose places with loam of weakly acidic or neutral type, characterized by perfect air and moisture permeability. Cuttings are placed at a distance of at least three meters from tall trees and shrubs, maintaining a distance of one meter in a row.

How to prepare the soil and flowers for planting

For the plant, open areas protected from the cold wind are chosen. Seedlings should be two-year-old and have at least 3-5 overhead shoots in combination with a perfectly developed root system. 10-14 days before planting, recesses are prepared with a width and depth of at least 60 cm, then they are filled with a soil mixture, which should include: turf, humus, peat and leafy soil.

Work with seedlings

Landing procedure step by step

Before planting, prepare a hole designed for further growth of the root system. In the presence of loose soil, it is advisable to supplement it with good drainage. The landing process consists of several steps:

• in the center of the recess make a small elevation;
• they place a stalk on it and straighten the processes;
• kidneys for restoration are placed at a distance of 2-3 cm from the topsoil;
• the roots are sprinkled with soil, then the soil is compacted and moistened.

A circle near the roots is mulched with humus to prevent loss of moisture from the soil layer after planting.

Seed planting

With the help of seeds, only wild-growing species of peony are propagated. This process is time consuming and suitable for experienced gardeners. In most cases, professionals recommend that breeding be carried out according to a standard method using dividing the bush.

Plant care

Peony Shirley Temple does not cause significant problems in the care process. In order for the flower to develop fully, it is provided with timely watering, fertilize and loosen the soil on time, and also clean the area from weeds.

Humidification and top dressing

The bushes are watered sparingly, preventing cracking of the soil. At the same time, they monitor the quantity and quality of irrigation in the spring. Since the beginning of September, the earth is abundantly moistened. In this case, the plant lays buds for the next year. Shrubs require at least two buckets of water. Regular fertilizers are required for the plant in the third or fourth year after planting. The procedure is combined with watering. At the beginning of April, organic components are added, the second time the soil is fertilized before the formation of inflorescences using mineral fertilizing.

Watering peonies

Mulching and cultivation

The soil near the bushes is loosened at an average pace the day after the rain; this procedure promotes growth and improves soil nutrition. To protect the soil and improve its properties, the soil is additionally mulched using organic matter, compost or a standard film.

Preventative treatment

For prevention, the area near the peonies is regularly cleaned of weeds. In the autumn period after the onset of cold weather, sprouts above the ground are cut exactly to the soil level. The variety belongs to the category of frost-resistant shrubs, but they should still be covered on the eve of frost with a compost or humus layer.

Blooming Peony Shirley Temple

The variety is referred to as "terry" crops. The diameter of each flower can reach 20 cm. The color of the buds varies from pale pink to milky white, the petals for inflorescences are straight in shape, located on the inside and tightly adjacent to the outside.

Period of activity and rest

The Shirley Temple milk peony, like the other Lactiflora species, is considered the earliest; the primary flower buds begin to bloom in early May. The flowering period lasts at least two to three weeks, taking into account the growing conditions.

Care during flowering and after

So that the flowers retain their qualities, they are carefully watered during the flowering period and after. It is important to fertilize the soil on time, the bushes are supplemented with top dressing at the stage of bud formation.

Why peonies do not bloom, common causes

If the bushes do not bloom, most likely the reason is a violation of the irrigation regime, improper fertilizer application or their absence. Sometimes plants do not have enough sunlight, which provokes the lack of buds.

Peonies after flowering

When the flowering stage is over, the culture needs additional care so that the peonies retain their decorative qualities until next year.

Transfer

The transplant procedure is carried out every 4-5 years. Due to it, plants rejuvenate and grow faster. For this purpose, the bushes are dug up and divided into several fragments with a sharp tool, then they are planted in a new place.

Pruning

Pruning of bushes is carried out in the autumn, cutting off their ground part at the level of the soil. The procedure is carried out only after the onset of cold weather, in order to avoid possible problems.

Winter preparations

The Shirley Temple variety is resistant to frost, so you can not cover the bushes for the winter. Additionally, the soil is covered with a mulching layer to improve thermoregulation.

Diseases, pests and ways to combat them

This herbaceous plant most often gets sick with viral infections, in particular, ring blotch, which refers to incurable diseases. Peonies often suffer from gray rot, to combat which fungicides are used. Insects often attack the plant. To prevent their effects, peonies are sprayed with Aktara and Kinmix preparations.

Peonies are the perfect decoration for the garden. The variety is resistant to frost and has excellent decorative properties. Full care is important so that the flowers delight the owners with a magnificent appearance.