| Until recently very little was known about the flowering physiology of Paeony (Paeonia lactiflora). It has been found that flower bud initiation starts after the old leaves senesce in the summer and it continues until late autumn when the flower buds become dormant. Release from dormancy requires a period of low temperatures that can be accelerated by GA (giberellic acid) treatment. After release from dormancy, plants should start growing and flowering under mild to warm temperatures. This basic information has enabled the development of a practical method for extending the flowering season and obtaining cut flower production in the winter, 2–3 months before the natural flowering season. Plants are grown under ambient natural cold temperatures of early winter. After sufficient cold units are accumulated, the structures are covered with polyethylene at mid-winter and the plants are drenched with GA solution. Sprouting and flowering soon follow. Another obstacle of rapid development of paeonies as a commercial crop is the slow rate of natural propagation by division of crowns. Methods of tissue culture propagation are now available Ball Publishing Co. “GrowerTalks” www.growertalks.com |
|