AlexUnder said:Do you know how much in % the growers are harvesting, Top? I find 30% on a lower side. Or may be the pickers are asked not collect no more than certain number of stems from different varieties each time.
1/3 is what I have seen bandied about the most.
My personal plan would be to count the overall stems and keep the 1/3 that look the closest to having the same sized buds. Any other stems with buds, I would pinch them out. The idea is that the only stems with buds are the ones that you would be collecting and wouldn't be bothered keeping track during the busier harvest time. It also keeps the plant from wasting energy.
I am also basing all of my needs on gathering 5 stems per peony, which I feel like is a very conservative number. I expect that number to be closer to accurate on year 5 and to become increasingly inaccurate as the plants continue to mature and put up more stems.
One important thing that there doesn't seem to be any information about is a simple enough question - how many divisions can you expect from a given peony? It is going to vary with age, soil types, care, and how big a piece you started with. But I find it odd that I can't find a printed number or even a guestimate. I personally am hoping for a 3:1 division rate with 2 year old peonies. So 10-->30-->90 over a 4 year span. Actual peony growers really hold that info close to the vest.
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