Planting bare root peony now?

msqingxiao

Hi all, I just got delivered a bare root peony I bought (for £1) at an end-of-season sale. Read around and seems like the best season to plant them is autumn to spring? Wonder if I should plant them in the ground now anyway, or pot up and wait until Sept to plant please? Thanks!

philippasmith2

If you are having as much rain as we are and the ground is well prepared, I'd say you could plant now and allow for the fact that the weather may turn hot and dry again and  then ensure that the peony doesn't suffer from lack of water whilst it establishes.
The advice is usually Autumn but given the weather these days, it doesn't always necessarily follow .  If you are unsure, best to pot up and wait  

JennyJ

Plant it now, water it in well, and cross your fingers. Ground or pot makes not much difference at this stage but it'll do better in the ground eventually. Make sure it's not too deep - they don't like that. Give it more water when it starts to grow.

A bare root plant should have been sent out and planted last winter/spring so I hope it's been stored in good conditions in the meantime. If you're unlucky and it doesn't grow, it's not your fault that the seller was still offering it for sale after it's potentially been out of the ground too long, so ask for a refund (unless there's a no-refunds policy on their sale items that was clear before you ordered).

JennyJ

@philippasmith2 , rain? what rain? we've had none for the last two weeks .

philippasmith2

I'll see if I can post you some @JennyJ - it wasn't that long ago that I was praying for it but there is a limit 

msqingxiao

philippasmith2 said:

If you are having as much rain as we are and the ground is well prepared, I'd say you could plant now and allow for the fact that the weather may turn hot and dry again and  then ensure that the peony doesn't suffer from lack of water whilst it establishes.
The advice is usually Autumn but given the weather these days, it doesn't always necessarily follow .  If you are unsure, best to pot up and wait  

JennyJ said:

Plant it now, water it in well, and cross your fingers. Ground or pot makes not much difference at this stage but it'll do better in the ground eventually. Make sure it's not too deep - they don't like that. Give it more water when it starts to grow.

A bare root plant should have been sent out and planted last winter/spring so I hope it's been stored in good conditions in the meantime. If you're unlucky and it doesn't grow, it's not your fault that the seller was still offering it for sale after it's potentially been out of the ground too long, so ask for a refund (unless there's a no-refunds policy on their sale items that was clear before you ordered).

Thanks both! I'll plant it out directly into the ground then. It's been raining here in London for quite a bit lately.

It only cost £1 so not sure if I'll bother asking for a refund if the bare root doesn't grow 

JennyJ

philippasmith2 said:

I'll see if I can post you some @JennyJ - it wasn't that long ago that I was praying for it but there is a limit 

It worked! (sort of). We had a short sharp shower around the time that you posted

JennyJ

msqingxiao said:

philippasmith2 said:

If you are having as much rain as we are and the ground is well prepared, I'd say you could plant now and allow for the fact that the weather may turn hot and dry again and  then ensure that the peony doesn't suffer from lack of water whilst it establishes.
The advice is usually Autumn but given the weather these days, it doesn't always necessarily follow .  If you are unsure, best to pot up and wait  

JennyJ said:

Plant it now, water it in well, and cross your fingers. Ground or pot makes not much difference at this stage but it'll do better in the ground eventually. Make sure it's not too deep - they don't like that. Give it more water when it starts to grow.

A bare root plant should have been sent out and planted last winter/spring so I hope it's been stored in good conditions in the meantime. If you're unlucky and it doesn't grow, it's not your fault that the seller was still offering it for sale after it's potentially been out of the ground too long, so ask for a refund (unless there's a no-refunds policy on their sale items that was clear before you ordered).

Thanks both! I'll plant it out directly into the ground then. It's been raining here in London for quite a bit lately.

It only cost £1 so not sure if I'll bother asking for a refund if the bare root doesn't grow 

Good luck! As you say, worth a try for £1. I do hope it grows for you, but don't blame yourself if it doesn't.

Loxley

I would soak it in water for a bit to rehydrate it, then plant and keep well watered. A couple of years ago I resurrected a totally dried out Peony that was apparently dead. It sat overnight in a bucket of water then we planted it.

msqingxiao

Loxley said:

I would soak it in water for a bit to rehydrate it, then plant and keep well watered. A couple of years ago I resurrected a totally dried out Peony that was apparently dead. It sat overnight in a bucket of water then we planted it.

Thanks Loxley! Yes I soaked it in water for about 30 minutes. And just to double check: I planted it with the sprouting bits upwards and just above the ground. Is that the right way up please?

Loxley

Yes! I would plant with the shoots just slightly below the ground but the old stem above ground level.