Peonies, Primroses. Perennial Rhizomes Wintering in the Soil of Kyrgyzstan
Peony (Paeonia L.)
One of the most popular and beautiful flowering plants. There are 15 species of peonies known in nature, one of which is the intermedia, commonly referred to as "Maryin root," found in the mountainous regions of our republic. The most widely cultivated varieties are those obtained from the Chinese peony through multiple hybridizations.
Peony is a winter-hardy plant (it winters well without shelter in our conditions), and it is very demanding of light, so it is best to grow it in open sunny places, away from large trees and shrubs. A peony can grow in one place (with proper care) for 10-15 years without losing its decorative qualities. Its above-ground part (numerous stems with large leaves and flowers) is annual and dies back each year, while new shoots regrow in spring from renewal buds.
The underground part of the peony is perennial and has a rather complex structure. The upper part, or root collar, is the most important organ, as renewal buds are formed on it every year. The lower part consists of a root system of two types: large, fleshy, thickened roots that go deep down and sideways, serving as a storehouse of reserve substances, which nourish the regrowing shoots in early spring; and small, highly branched roots, which constitute the actual root system, with some roots dying off while others turn into thickened tuberous roots.
Peonies are mainly propagated vegetatively, most often by dividing the bush. It is better to divide bushes that are not too old, about 5-7 years old, as they are easier to separate and provide healthier planting material.
It is best to divide and transplant peonies in our conditions at the end of August to early September, before the secondary root growth begins. For this, the bush should be completely dug up, the shoots cut off, the root collar carefully cleaned of soil (preferably washed with water) without damaging the buds, and divided into parts so that each part has 2-4 well-developed buds and 2-3 shortened tuberous roots (see Fig. 4). Damaged and rotten tuberous roots should be cut out. The cut surfaces should be dusted with crushed charcoal.
It is important not to delay the division and transplantation of peonies, as secondary root growth occurs in autumn, and if planted late in the fall, the plants do not have time to root. Peonies can also be transplanted and divided in spring, but as early as possible, before the buds start to grow; otherwise, there is a deep disruption of growth processes, and such plants typically do not bloom for 2-3 years afterward.
A very important aspect is the correct planting of the divisions. Since peonies are planted for at least 5-10 years, it is necessary to carefully prepare the planting holes. They should be dug at a distance of 80-100 cm, measuring 50x50 cm and up to 60 cm deep, filled with well-rotted manure mixed with soil in a ratio of 1:2, and watered a day before planting to allow the soil to settle, and only after that should the divisions be planted. The root collar and buds of the division should be no deeper than 5 cm from the soil surface. Planting the buds deeper is one of the reasons why peonies take a long time to bloom. To ensure that the plants bloom in 2-3 years, it is necessary to remove the buds that form on the shoots the following year; this will promote faster development of renewal buds.
Many gardeners make the mistake of cutting all blooming shoots to ensure that the bushes bloom profusely every year.
Some shoots should be left, removing the buds. Leaves should not be cut until they are completely wilted. If they interfere with other plants, they can be tied into bundles.
After flowering, complex processes of growth and the formation of new renewal buds on the root collar continue in peonies, so they need to be watered, fertilized, and the soil loosened until autumn.
Due to the fact that these plants accumulate a large vegetative mass every year, they consume a significant amount of nutrients, which must be constantly replenished by providing 2-4 feedings of organic and mineral fertilizers during the growing season. The norms of fertilizers depend on the age of the bush and the fertility of the soil.
In the Botanical Garden, more than 100 varieties are cultivated, differing in flowering times, shapes, and colors of flowers. The best among them are: Aviator Blériot — dark red flowers up to 12 cm in diameter; Albatr — white flowers that transition to pale pink with red streaks towards the center; Madame Émile Lemoine — creamy white, fragrant, rose-shaped flowers up to 14 cm in diameter, with large, glossy, light green leaves; Duchesse de Nemours — white flowers with a yellowish tint, crown-shaped, up to 12 cm in diameter; Felix Crousse — bright red, fragrant, semi-spherical flowers, small, up to 10 cm in diameter.
Primula, Primrose (Primula L.) — the earliest and most beautifully flowering plant. Of the more than 500 known species distributed around the globe, about 70 are found in the USSR.
These are perennial, and less often annual plants. Their leaves are basal, gathered in rosettes, petiolate or sessile, entire or serrated. The stem is leafless, 20-40 cm tall, ending in an umbrella-like or head-like inflorescence. They propagate well by dividing rhizomes and by seeds. Seeds are collected and immediately sown in beds located in the shade.
For decorative purposes, the following species are interesting:
P. cortusoides (P. cortusoides L.). The height of the plant is 35 cm. The flower stalk ends with an umbrella-shaped inflorescence. The flowers are purple with a bright yellow eye. The leaves are on long, densely hairy petioles, elongated-ovate, with large serrated edges, hairy underneath. It blooms from April 15-20 to the end of May;
P. veris (P. veris L.). It grows wild in the European part of the USSR and Crimea. The height of the plant is 25 cm. The flowers are drooping, golden-yellow, gathered in a one-sided umbrella. The leaves are on short petioles, ovate-elongated. In the process of cultivation, numerous forms and varieties have acquired various flower colors: burgundy, carmine, red, yellow with eyes of different colors. It blooms in April-May for 45-50 days. In cultivation, it is undemanding, but in open sunny places, it blooms faster and the leaves turn yellow sooner;
P. denticulata (P. denticulata Smith). The height of the plant is 40 cm. The stem is robust, densely covered with a powdery coating. The flowers are lilac, gathered in a head-like inflorescence up to 8 cm in diameter. It blooms shortly after the snow melts. The plant is moisture- and shade-loving. It looks very effective at the edge of the forest when planted in groups or as a ribbon along paths.
Lily of the Valley, Poppy, Small-leaved Monarda. Rhizomatous perennials that winter in the soil of Kyrgyzstan
