I think they're right, your fertilizer should work great, Joanna. I've started switching off the BulbTone with FlowerTone for the additional potash, also picked up PlantTone for initial planting. I have no idea if any one of them is better than any other, same manufacturer or different manufacturer, just know the peonies seem to love the additional feeding and those products more targeted at blooms rather than foliage do the trick.

At advice here I ordered a huge bag of Espoma (sp) and used it this spring on my peonies and also at the bottom of the holes for my dahlias. Peony plants are pretty happy, tall with lots of buds. I am hoping that they will catchup on their bloom dates as the earlier ones are about a month behind due to weather. I will measure the height and count buds this year to use for comparison to see if the Espoma made any marked difference. And of course, I continue to use Azomite fall and spring.

Oberon46 said:At advice here I ordered a huge bag of Espoma (sp) and used it this spring on my peonies and also at the bottom of the holes for my dahlias. Peony plants are pretty happy, tall with lots of buds. I am hoping that they will catchup on their bloom dates as the earlier ones are about a month behind due to weather. I will measure the height and count buds this year to use for comparison to see if the Espoma made any marked difference. And of course, I continue to use Azomite fall and spring.

I'm curious to know what their ratios are. Would it be too much trouble to check?

You mean like the three numbers? The ratio is 3-5-3 on Espoma

Oberon46 said:You mean like the three numbers? The ratio is 3-5-3 on Espoma

Yes, exactly. Thank you!

You're welcome

joannakat said:Thank you everyone for all your encouragement. Patience has paid off! This is my very first peony flower EVER, and I'm head over heals in love with it! As we discussed, it is smaller than what it will be in future years, but I believe it is true to color.

Enjoy! Bowl of Beauty.

• Peony (Paeonia lactiflora 'Bowl of Beauty')
• Uploaded by joannakat

[lightbox]2017-06-18/joannakat/032811[/lightbox

Joanna,

I have got Bowl of Beauty too! I rescued two peonies last year. One of them turned to be Bowl of Beauty. It was very hot day last year when I passed by the gardeners who had just dug up three big peony plants. I saved two of them; the third was already shredded in the gardeners' track. I brought the two rescuees home and planted them right away. The only spot I had for them was not sunny, but anything was better than certain death. The one of the peonies that is turning to be Bowl of Beauty was completely wilted, and it could not recover at all last fall. However, it showed up in spring, and produced a bud that is opening now. I will post a picture as soon as it opens completely.

I told you that Bowl of Beauty is one of my favorites, and I wanted it for a long time. Since I don't have enough sun for herbaceous peonies, I don't buy them. I have only rescued rescued plants that would certainly died otherwise. I am beyond happy that one of them turned to be Bowl of Beauty.

Jasmin said:

Joanna,

I have got Bowl of Beauty too! I rescued two peonies last year. One of them turned to be Bowl of Beauty. It was very hot day last year when I passed by the gardeners who had just dug up three big peony plants. I saved two of them; the third was already shredded in the gardeners' track. I brought the two rescuees home and planted them right away. The only spot I had for them was not sunny, but anything was better than certain death. The one of the peonies that is turning to be Bowl of Beauty was completely wilted, and it could not recover at all last fall. However, it showed up in spring, and produced a bud that is opening now. I will post a picture as soon as it opens completely.

I told you that Bowl of Beauty is one of my favorites, and I wanted it for a long time. Since I don't have enough sun for herbaceous peonies, I don't buy them. I have only rescued rescued plants that would certainly died otherwise. I am beyond happy that one of them turned to be Bowl of Beauty.

@Jasmin, lucky you! Such a beautiful plant, right? I absolutely love peonies. So glad yours are doing well!