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Many Peonies Systematically Sold Too Raw

Why is that? Read the reasons for it here.

By: THURSD. | 10-06-2020 | 4 min read
Floral Education
Many Peonies Systematically Sold Too Raw header on Thursd

In the last couple of weeks, the peony season is in full swing. Millions of the most pretty flowers in the flower industry - I think we can all agree on that - are being harvested from the fields. Talking about European peonies grown in outdoor fields, the season for peonies starts in the south of Europe, then France, and now the Dutch peonies are also ready for harvesting. Peonies are grown everywhere.

Hundreds of Peony Varieties

Depending on which variety, if it is an early, mid, or late blooming plant, you can find a wide range of varieties. In total hundreds of varieties are being sold on the markets. Most of the varieties are ancient species and have been on the market for decades. To propagate peonies and find new varieties is very hard because to multiply a plant takes many, many years.

 

Peony Harvesters in field
Peony harvesters in the field

 

Peonies harvest
Peonies almost ready to harvest
 

Varieties with names such as Peony Sarah Bernhardt, Duchesse de Nemours, and Monsieur Jules Elie, are really old varieties and have proven to be really good in production and flowering. Peonies are also a crop for a grower that has patience. That is because once the young plants/roots are being planted, it takes about three years before you have full production and the right quality of flowers.

 

 

Peony harvesting
Peony harvesting

 

Many Peonies Are Sold Too Raw

Knowing this, and understanding all the hard labor which has gone into the cultivation of peonies, it is for many peony enthusiasts difficult to understand why many peonies are systematically sold too raw. Because when a peony is sold too raw, more than often the flower doesn't perform as it could. When you compare the vase life and performance of peonies that have been cut at a later stage, you can see that they perform much, much better.

Cutting the right flower stage is very important. This grower selects only the right stage and leaves the closed ones on the fields for harvest at a later time.

 

My Peony Society
Selecting the right stage
 

Why Are Peonies Sold Too Raw?

Knowing all this, it is a pity to see that many peonies are systematically sold too raw. Why is that?

 

Right Stage peonies
Right stage peonies
 

Now you understand why many peonies are being systematically sold too raw, maybe you can find a way of informing people in the industry, and the consumers in your shop about the right stage for these pretty flowers. And together make the world aware we need them a bit more open.

 

Peonies
The perfect flower stage for this variety.
 

Of course, there are many growers of peonies who do cut the flowers at the right flower stage. Large numbers are being traded by companies like My Peony Society, who do their utmost to just source and deliver the best peonies. At the right flower stage. And when buying from a webshop, take a good look at the pictures coming with the offers. Most pictures of flowers being sold at the auction have to be the real picture of that specific lot. Make sure to buy only these peonies that are already showing some color.

 

Peonies at flower auction

 

White Peonies at flower auction

 

Peony Monsieur Jules Elie
Monsieur Jules Elie peonies in the field

 

So, when you do want to have peonies in the right flower stage, make sure when buying them, they are a bit more open. Or just ask your wholesaler to buy from smaller growers who go through the fields a couple of times to make sure they only cut the flowers at the right stage. Sometimes these growers have to go through the same field twice a day because at the end of the day some flowers are in a better state than they are in the morning. All pictures courtesy My Peony Society

 

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