Join Our On-Demand Class: How To Create Your Own Peony Cutting Garden
Giant peony bouquets for every room in your house all spring!
Every year for the rest of your life. Cheap. Bring bouquets to friends and family. (Feeeel the boost in your popularity) Let me show you how easy it is.
I’m Karen Gesa, owner of Midsommar Farm in northern Virginia. We grow and sell thousands of peony stems to florists and designers every year.
We started out growing annuals. They are beautiful. And they are a lot of work. We eventually learned our lesson and transitioned to peonies – a perennial! So. Much. Easier. Not to mention sought-after and gigantic. But there was a learning curve there too.
Let’s cut out the painful trial-and-error.
In this class, I’m presenting step-by-step instructions on how to choose, plant, cultivate, and harvest peonies for maximum success. I’ll fill you in on years of “lessons learned”. I’ll provide a curated selection of our top ten varieties that are exceptional choices for creating breathtaking cut flower arrangements that the end-user (you?) will love. Each has been proven to be in high demand with florists and consumers. We’ll explain WHY each of these choices is a rock-star AND tell you where you can get the roots! Huzzah! You only need about 3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet for each plant in all or mostly sun - so let’s go!
Topic Outline
- Welcome and introduction to Midsommar Farm
- Why peonies are so EASY
- The Basics
- Exploring different peony types and forms
- Seeds vs Roots
- Side-buds
- Recommended cultivars
- Sourcing roots and typical cost
- Selecting the ideal location
- Soil preparation and amendments
- Planting techniques and timing
- Watering and fertilizing tips
- To support or not to support
- End of season clean-up
- Pest and disease management
- Tips for extending the blooming season
- Timing harvest for maximum vase life
- Proper cutting techniques
- Storage tips
- Can peonies grow in pots or containers?
- How many plants? How much space?
- Can they be grown in the south?
- How growing your own is beneficial for the environment
- Hybridization and breeding peonies
- Introduction to selling peonies