Does anyone know if peonies will grow from the tubers, or should I only be saving the pips?
Peony tubers
Not sure what you mean - don't the pips come out of the tubers?
Well, they probably do, but I have a mess in there! Looks to me like there is a pip at the base of the stalk, then there's a long tuber with feeder roots coming off ot it.
When digging up the plants, in some cases I have broken the tuber/root end, and I actually have 2 pieces. I'm assuming (uh-oh!) I should send the part of the tuber with the pip on it? Can I replant the other half of the tuber with the feeder root on the end or does this just go to the compost pile?
I'm thinking if you have the root, pink pips will form at the soil base and make the peony stems. Might take a few years longer before they bloom.
Trying not to be dense here... So you're saying, mail the part with the pip and root section, and replant the root section, just in case? These guys are incredibly beautiful and if there's a chance another will take root, it's worth a try. On the other hand, space gets limited so I don't want to plant something if there's not a prayer of a chance! Would you just plant it back where you pulled it up?
If you want more plants, I think I'd replant that tuber/root. Looks pretty healthy in the pics. If there's soil there, and that's where you want it, replant it. Compost at the bottom is supposed to be really good for peonies. I've never done that but mine all came with the house. :)
Mine, too! Lucky for me the gal I bought the house from was a plantin' fool! And I'm such a dope I didn't know that stuff would multiply. I sincerely believed that everything would stay the same. Took me about 2 years to realize my cup runneth over! Now I'm finally gettin' the hang of things - divide and conquer. Great trade "stuff"! And these guys are awesome - big fat flowers. People are always commenting on them when their dogs get loose and they're chasing them into my yard. Ahhh - life in the country!
Sequee...Peonies are hard to kill. Well at least for me they are. Even the smallest piece will survive. Any piece planted will grow. I've seen it with my own 2 eyes...LOL
Me too - dug one out this spring, threw some small pieces on the dirt pile and pretty soon there were little leaves coming up. :)