When it comes to harvesting peonies, timing is crucial to ensure maximum vase life or to enjoy their beauty all summer long. The best time to harvest peonies is when they are in the marshmallow phase. But what exactly does that mean?
When peonies start to bud, they feel hard and firm, almost like little marbles. This is the stage when the buds are developing and preparing to bloom. However, if you want to extend the vase life of your peonies or keep them blooming in your garden for as long as possible, it’s best to wait until they reach the marshmallow stage.
The marshmallow stage refers to the point when the peony buds feel soft and squishy, resembling a marshmallow. At this stage, the buds are fully developed and ready to burst open into beautiful blooms. It’s important to note that once peonies reach the marshmallow stage, they can quickly bloom, sometimes within just a day or two.
To determine if your peonies are in the marshmallow stage, gently squeeze the buds between your fingers. They should feel soft and give a little when pressed. If they still feel hard or firm, they are not yet at the marshmallow stage.
Harvesting peonies at the marshmallow stage ensures that you will have the longest vase life. This is because the buds are fully matured and have enough stored energy to continue opening and blooming once cut. If you harvest peonies too early, when they are still in the hard bud stage, they may not fully open and will have a shorter vase life.
To cut peonies for a vase arrangement, use clean and sharp garden shears or pruners. Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle, preferably early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperatures are cooler. This helps to minimize stress on the flowers and allows them to retain moisture.
Once you’ve cut your peonies, immediately place them in a bucket or vase filled with cool water. Remove any leaves that would be submerged in the water, as they can promote bacterial growth. To maximize vase life, you can also add floral preservative to the water, which helps nourish the flowers and prevents bacteria from forming.
If you’re planning to keep your peonies blooming in your garden all summer, it’s important to deadhead the spent blooms. This means removing the faded flowers by cutting the stem just above a set of healthy leaves or buds. Deadheading encourages the plant to produce more blooms and prevents energy from being wasted on seed production.
The best time to harvest peonies is when they are in the marshmallow stage, which is when the buds feel soft and squishy. Cutting them at this stage ensures maximum vase life or allows them to continue blooming in your garden. So keep an eye on your peonies, wait for that marshmallow-like texture, and enjoy their beauty for as long as possible.
