Did you leave some spent peony heads to develop seed this summer? Now is the time to take a look and see if they are popping open with ripe seed. When the pods start to crack open, the seed is generally ready to gather up. Mature/ripe peony seed is plump and can be blue, black, brown, tan or various colors (little red 'seeds' are generally infertile).
- Sow in containers or seed beds outside.
- Cover with a thin layer of soil.
- Lightly water; and, keep slightly moist until the fall rains arrive.
- Next spring you will see some sprouts, with more seed sprouting the following spring. Keep weed free.
- Transplant when they are two year old seedlings. In Oregon they generally bloom their third spring; back east it may take another few years.
Can't wait for new peony varieties? Browse our peony root catalog to order roots to plant this fall. Our roots have a 70% chance of producing a blossom or 2 the first spring after planting. Get a jump start on new peony plantings with our generous sized roots.