It's peony season! These beauties are only available at select places in Ontario and I am lucky that my local Longo's carries them on a weekly basis. They are always fresh and closed as they are shipped in within 48 hours of harvest from a little farm in St. Catherines, Ontario called Pioneer Flower Farms.
I was always disappointed that my peonies barely lasted a week, so I googled some little tips that will help me carry them just a little longer so I decided this is a worthy post to share!
How to buy
It is important to be mindful of when you need your blooms. Although peonies are not pretty when they are closed, these are the ones you want to buy because they are yet to bloom! It may feel lucky to find some big open ones at your local store, but these ones are already halfway through their lifestyle. I would not recommend to purchase these, unless you need them for that day (i.e. a social distancing BBQ). I always opt for completely closed bulbs that are as large as possible.
How to prepare
Carefully trim all of the leaves which will touch the water, but it is totally fine to leave one or two at the top because this helps absorb water and food to help your peonies flourish. Always cut your stems at an angle while holding it under water. I always find this a bit tricky, but you'll get the hang of it! This will prevent air from getting into the stem.
Sometimes my peonies droop a little, so I always trim it just enough so it stands upright in the vase. This will contribute to its longevity.
Another tip I came across is to change your water everyday or every other day. Let's be real, no one wants to do this everyday, so just keep an eye on them because it can become murky fairly quickly. Also remember to give your peonies some love with the food mix, or try a teaspoon of sugar.
How to expedite / slow down blooming
If you want to hustle these babies to bloom quickly, trim them a little more (approx. 2 inches), put them in a little but of luke warm water and avoid direct sunlight.
If you want to slow down blooming, put them in cold water with some ice cubes and put them in a cool spot.
Tip
Since our peony season is limited, toward the end of the season, you can buy a closed bunch and refrigerate them for atleast a week before taking them out.
If you have any tips or tricks, I would love to hear from you!
Love,
Big T
xoxo
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