Somebody said it couldn’t be done—peonies couldn’t be grown successfully as far south as Corinth, Mississippi. But Milton F. Rubel, retired banker of Corinth, who has been gardening for 65 of his 71 years, wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.
Milton F. Rubel’s Peony Journey
In 1930, he bought a few of the early double varieties, planted them, and discovered that they took to his soil and climate as naturally as if they were natives of the Deep South.
He tried the midseason and late-flowering varieties with equal success in the following years.
Last May, at the Men’s Garden Clubs of America national convention in Jackson, Mississippi, he staged the first big peony display ever to be shown in the South.
It was a tour de force—two thousand flowers from six hundred varieties of his breeding.
Pollenizer Peonies and Tips For Successful Planting
Quite early, he decided to try his hand at pollenizer peonies and growing them from seed. He learned that his seedlings did better in Corinth than did the plants imported from other sections of the country.
In an interview with him at his garden soon after his show, he said, “The seed should be gathered before it turns brown; otherwise, it won’t come up for two years.
Plant the seed in rows in the open ground. Do not cover it over a one-half inch deep, and do not transplant the seedlings until after their second year.
“In planting peonies, set the plants so the eyes eat up. Fill the holes half full of soil around the roots and then water to drive out air and firm the plants.
If the plants settle too deep, pull them up to the required depth and then fill the rest of the hole. Do not pack the added soil.
“I plant peonies not over one inch deep so that they get all the benefit of the cold winter weather.
Farther south, say 100 miles south of Corinth, don’t plant over a one-half inch deep. From that point to the Gulf of Mexico, plant not more than one-quarter-inch deep.
Cultivating and Caring For Peonies in the Deep South
“Cultivate the ground lightly to create a dust mulch that prevents the soil from drying and heating. I do this as soon as the plants come up and continue throughout the summer and fall. I remove all side buds just as soon as I can pick them out.
If a top bud seems defective, I take that out and leave the second bud. It will make just as big a flower but will bloom two weeks later than the top bud would have.”
Mr. Rubel is always willing to share his experience with anyone interested in growing peonies, particularly in the Deep South.
He plants in the sun and keeps the peonies away from the competing roots of trees and shrubs. In cutting the flowers, which he rarely does, he leaves as much foliage on the plant as possible, even if this means short stems.
After flowering, the plants are fertilized with balanced plant food. If leaves turn brown, he cuts off the foliage to within 2″ inches of the soil and destroys it, getting completely out of the garden lest it harbors disease.
Peonies in The Deep South
Although Mr. Rubel can grow the early, midseason, and late varieties in Corinth, he says that farther South, only the very earliest flowering doubles and most of the Japanese singles and semi-doubles can be grown with success.
The Ruble garden covers several acres and includes thousands of daylilies and narcissus. It has become a major tourist attraction, especially when the peonies are at their best from May 1 to 15.
“I rarely cut them, and I don’t sell them,” says Mr. Rubel, “I leave them there to enjoy. Every time a northerner visits the garden, I give him a plant of some kind—other than a peony. That way, I can help make friends in Mississippi.”
44659 by Donald M. Hastings, Sr.