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Salvage Peony tuber ?

owd potterowd potter Posts: 979
in Plants
Hiya all,
So after much effort and a good spade knackered I managed to remove an old holly crown with as much root as possible, hopefully the remaining roots will not regenerate.
Unfortunately during the extraction I also damaged a nearby Peony tuber, breaking off a fair chunk of the tuber (about the size of a swede I'd guess).
Hopefully the Peony, which is just setting new growth, will not miss this piece too much and will continue to flower.
I have also unceremoniously shoved the broken piece of tuber back in the ground.
What will be will be I guess but curiosity has got the better of me and I'm wondering if the broken piece of tuber can be propagated into a new plant, and if so how best to do so?    
cheers
Owd
Just another day at the plant...

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I would try putting in into a pot, a bit bigger than the lump, (8inch by the sound of it) of soil lightened with a bit of multipurpose compost, about 50/50.  That should give it a bit of a start. I do that with those dried up specimens you get in bags in the garden centre.  Give it a bit of cossetting for the first year. Then plant it out the second spring where you want it, with a good bit of feed.
  • owd potterowd potter Posts: 979
    Thanks @fidgetbones
    intuitively, putting it in a pot would be a better bet, so i'll do that tomorrow.
    The broken piece had no visible shoots so far as I could see, it was just a round smooth piece of tuber.
    I'll pot it up, put it aside somewhere nice and cosy and let you know if it works.
    Ta muchly
    Just another day at the plant...
  • parrotfeather*parrotfeather* Posts: 188
    A piece of root will grow if it has an "eye", ie a bud on it.  If it is just a smooth root with no evidence of anything breaking the surface it may well be an old part of the root which will not put out a shoot, but pot it up amd see what happens anyway.  Best not to keep it too hot, though, as Paeonies are very hardy.  A cold frame would be ideal but otherwise just a sheltered spot outside is fine.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    It will depend on whether there is a growing point. They can be difficult to see but if you plant the piece the right way up, it will certainly grow if there is one. I use potting compost and don't plant it too deep - just under the surface. Pop it in a sheltered place but remember to water it in dry spells.
  • owd potterowd potter Posts: 979
    @parrotfeather* , @Posy
    thanks for the excellent info,
    I will give it a go as suggested, nowt to lose.
    Owd 
    Just another day at the plant...
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