Herbaceous Peony Trials for Cut Flower Export in Alaska

Research was begun in 2001 to identify all components of peony field cut flower production and distribution from field selection and planting to post harvest handling and packaging for export. This experiment evaluated three components of this process: seasonal planting times, root characteristics, and post harvest handling of cut stems. In a comparison of planting times (direct field planting in autumn, direct field planting in spring or as containerized plants in mid summer), 'Sarah Bernhardt and 'Felix Crouse' showed no difference in shoot number and growth one full year after planting.  'Duchess de Nemours' and 'Alexander Fleming' showed significant reductions in growth compared to the other cultivars, and we suspect disease and early bud break as contributing factors. All treatments where bud break had occurred in storage with 'Duchess de Nemours' and 'Alexander Fleming', new shoots rotted, and recovery was slow. One year following planting, total number of stems and number of flowering stems differed significantly among cultivars. Containerized plants showed significantly fewer flowers in year one for 'Sarah Bernhardt' and 'Felix Crouse'. 'Sarah Bernhardt' roots and crown buds were weighed, counted and measured (length, diameter) prior to planting in order to learn if a correlation exists between root characteristics and subsequent growth and flowering. Three root attributes were correlated with the total number of stems produced in year one: total number of eyes per plant, total number of roots per plant and root fresh weight. Root length and maximum diameter were not correlated with subsequent growth.  In addition, we found no relationship between any root characteristics and number of flowering stems and foliage height in the first year. Best methods of handling peony cut flowers for greatest vase life include cutting peonies dry in the field and storing them dry in a cooler (34^oF) at 80+% relative humidity until shipping. Use of water in buckets in the field or pulsing flowers with water in the cooler does not improve vase life of peonies. Under optimum conditions, 'Sarah Bernhardt' peonies lasted up to 15 days in a vase, 8-9 days from bud break to full bloom and an additional 5-7 days in full bloom. Unchilled stems reached full bloom in 3-4 days with 8-9 days at full bloom. Chilling slowed bud opening but did not influence length of full bloom.