With winter settling in on these shortest days of the year I thought you all might be interested on the major milestones that divide up our year on the peony farm.

Some are obvious and others are much more behind the scenes.

We have two busy seasons here on the farm. The first of course is spring when the peonies are in bloom and the fields are full of visitors. But we are just as busy in fall digging, dividing and shipping.

You may have caught us thsi past year on a television station or newspaper article. Perhaps even a magazine article.

In case you missed those… here’s a 2024 media roundup.

Our resident fox family is doing a pretty good job keeping the squirrel population down on our farm. But the few I do see this time of year are working hard to plant more black walnut trees.

We have several on the farm and I do love the nuts, but they aren’t exactly a good match for peonies.

Here’s why.

When you think of peonies, my guess is that you picture the big gorgeous blooms of a double peony.

But don’t make the mistake of thinking that’s the only type! Peonies come in six different forms that are recognized by the American Peony Association.

Which is your favorite? That’s the hard part.

Before we start this topic here’s the most important point… KNOW YOUR ANIMAL! Some animals love to chew plants and just about everything, other’s don’t touch them!

When it comes to plants there’s a spectrum of how toxic or non-toxic a plant can be.

After planting peonies, hopefully you’ve been watering well. Or better yet, hopefully Mother Nature has given you a nice soaking rain.

Either way, there’s one specific thing I want you to look for before you say good night to your peonies for the winter.

The first winter it can be a good idea to mulch your newly planted peony root. You can use a natural wood or bark, straw, shredded leaves, etc. for the mulch. This can help with the heaving soil during the freeze thaw cycle of the root’s first cold season.

A big thank you to Tanya for the questions that prompted this week’s email content.

How long can I wait to plant my roots once received?  And, what’s the best conditions to ‘hold’ them during that time?

I know it’s best to get them in when they arrive but that won’t happen this year because … well … “life.”

Whether you’re dividing your own peony or you are receving one in the mail doesn’t matter. If you’re planting a root this time of year it’s very important to get it in the ground the right way!

The eyes of the peony are the little white or pink buds that will become next year’s stems, leaves and flowers.

When planting, those eyes should point up toward the sky.

The secret to knowing when to cut back your peonies comes to looking at the leaves. They will tell you when it’s time!

This picture above is a perfect example of a frosty peony plant with leaves that are signaling it’s time to be cut back.

You don’t want to cut back your peonies too early if you can avoid it.

Whether you’re buying a 3 to 5 eye peony root or planting those eyes 1” to 2” below the soil level, it’s probably a good idea to know what we mean by “eyes.”

Many of us have memories of Grandma’s peonies. The lucky ones have more than memories, they have those very same plants growing in a new location and still fabulous.

I’m one of those lucky ones that has Grandma’s peonies. In fact, they are Great Grandma’s!

With the ability to live for a century or more, peonies are certainly worthy of being called a family heirloom.

We start to dig our peony roots for shipping usually in late Spetember or early October, depending on the weather. THen we send them off to you ASAP!

When you get the roots and plant them in the ground magic happens.

We think peonies are still a pretty good-looking plant even after bloom season is over. The dark green, lush foliage stays looking nice (as long as fungus or disease hasn’t settled in) all the way up until a frost.

Co-planting some of our favorite summer-blooming perennials with your peonies will keep that garden space looking ship shape all season long.