In the spotlights
It is one of the most popular spring bloomers, indispensable in the bridal season and only available for a very short time. We are of course talking about the beautiful peony. The paeonia represent love, happiness, prosperity and flourishing romance. It is with good reason that this beautiful large-flowered apparition is very popular and often used in the most beautiful bridal arrangements.
Origin
Here in Europe we have been enjoying the splendid peonies since 1784. In China they were impressed by her much earlier. There the peony was not only grown for its flowers, but especially for its roots. According to the Chinese, these would have a fever-reducing and astringent effect. We would advise you however not to put the peony in your mouth, but to simply enjoy it!
Single-flowered and double-flowered peonies
FloraPodium visited the brothers Koen and Joost Groot, third generation growers who run their company Groot & Groot, after taking over from their father who took over from his father before. Father Michiel is still responsible for the cultivation because of his years of experience, and is largely responsible for the good quality of the beautiful peonies.
The boys started out as lily growers, but in 2015 they switched completely to the cultivation of cut peonies and now grow 37 different varieties from soft pink to hard red and bright yellow. There are single-flowered and double-flowered peonies, but at Groot & Groot they mainly grow double-flowered peonies. Many of these varieties are offered exclusively by their company. In addition to this wide range of flowers, they also have a whole range of peony plants.
Peonies from home and abroad
Groot & Groot grow their peonies both in France and in the Netherlands. As a result, they also serve a large international market and can produce this beautiful seasonal crop for a longer period. The season in the Netherlands is only short; the brothers can only produce here in May and June in. In those two months they produce around 30 different types of peonies.
In the spotlight
We were particularly impressed by Paeonia 'Moon over Barrington'. The species is not new and has been on the market for a few years. It is difficult to propagate a peony and it sometimes takes 30 years before a new variety is introduced on the market. The size, the scent and the color tones of this particular beauty are worth highlighting. This beautiful double peony is bigger than your own hands! The flower has a long vase life and has a soft pink color. In the sun, however, the flower turns to a more creamy-white color. The scent is incredibly strong and delicious! Everyone who walks past this vase of peonies will certainly stop to smell these wonderful products.
Care
A good clean vase is very important. Fill it with some lukewarm water and cut flower food. Cut the stems a little bit and remove the leaf at the bottom of the stem. If the peonies are still closed, you can spray the heads a little with warm water so that the sugar on the outer leaves dissolves. If necessary, repeat this again after a few days. It is advisable to change the water every now and to freshly cut the stems before putting them back in the water.
The cultivation
Fields full of beautiful peonies! Now we can only admire the fields of 6 hectares in the Netherlands, but let’s not forget the 4.5 extra hectares of land in France. On a typically rainy Dutch day, we were cheered up by the large flower buds with beautiful peonies.
Peonies after two years
The peony is a perennial plant with very long roots that root deep in the soil. The nursery grows in clay soil, but the product actually thrives in all types of soils, that is how strong the plant is! The brothers wait with cutting until the plant is at least two years old. In these two years the plants are continuously headed so that all the energy goes into the plant. Heading means that the buds are removed. The plants simply stay planted where they are all year round. All varieties have their own maturity stage and by gently squeezing the flower buds, they know if a product is ripe enough for cutting. The bud must also show all its color. If the bud is soft enough and they already have the color they are going to be, it is a sign that the flower will also open.
Good sorting
The brothers are committed to quality. They strive for the very best and most exclusive products and the sorting system of the brothers is therefore exceptionally good. Peonies are often sold with different stages in a bunch, so some are more mature than others. You also often see differently sized flower buds. The sorting system at Groot & Groot however ensures accurate sorting, so that only uniform bunches are created. Every market has different wishes that Groot & Groot responds to. This sorting system allows them to perfectly match the various bunches to the demands and wishes of the customer!
Test center
Groot & Groot distinguishes itself in the market by quality, exclusivity and continuity of both flowers and plant material with national and international sales channels. Their own test center shows the quality of these beautiful peonies. The diameter and length are tested in this center. Furthermore, they check the vase life, how the product colors on the vase and whether the peonies are fragrant. As a result, they also know, for example, at what stage of maturity they can best cut the peonies for the best possible vase life.
Cold store
Many peony growers save the peonies in cold storage for a long time. It is therefore common knowledge that peonies do not always have the best quality. Groot & Groot saves the products in cold storage at one degree Celsius and continuously executes quality controls. Every day the quality is assessed and maturity sorting is checked. By doing so Groot & Groot are confident in guaranteeing that all their peonies will open in the vase and that you can enjoy these beauties for as long as possible!
FloraPodium, 23 May 2019
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