Seed ripening and harvest
Peony seeds are usually ripe when the plant's foliage gradually turns reddish in color. This is the case long after the flowering period, around late summer. You shouldn't wait too long to harvest the seeds! The ripe follicles burst open and the seeds can easily fall out.
also read
- The seeds of the lily - characteristics and sowing
- Canna - characteristics of the seeds and sowing
- Violet seeds - characteristics and sowing
The germination capacity dries up
Since the seeds quickly lose their ability to germinate (especially if they are very dry), it is best to sow them immediately. You should store them until next spring at the latest! Therefore, seeds from the trade are not particularly recommended for sowing.
External characteristics of the seeds
The fresh seeds are plump, shiny, dark brown to black in color. Its shape is difficult to describe. Each seed is unique. As a rule, they are partly rounded and partly angular. The corners are rounded and there are indentations.
Growing peonies from seeds
Sowing peonies is not for the impatient. For one thing, it can take up to 2 years for the seeds to germinate. On the other hand, it can take 5 to 10 years for the first bloom. You should therefore carefully consider sowing as a method of propagation!
In autumn, right after the seeds have been harvested, the ideal time for sowing has come. Caution: The seeds are cold germs that are only stimulated to germinate after a cold period of several weeks. You can do this without a refrigerator!
This is the easiest way to sow:
- Fill the seed tray with loose, sandy soil
- sow several seeds flat
- Put the seed trays outside
- keep moderately moist
- in spring: prick out as soon as germination has taken place
- place in a partially shaded location
- plant out in autumn
Tips
The leaves that look first out of the earth are not the cotyledons. These are the first real leaves. The cotyledons are underground.
