Kitchen Garden Forum

The plants commonly called geranium are actually pelargoniums, I think it is zonal subsection. the botanical geraniums are not related to them.
Allan

I'll be common thanks, people understand me then.

Gardeners know to ask, hardy or not.

Re geraniums and plargoniums (I always say them both toether - saves trying to remember which is which!) a lot of my more interesting ones came from Iden Croft. For those in the south east region, it's on the road from Cranbrooke to Maidstone, near Sissinghurst. Used to be a monastery with a kitchen/medical garden, now a fantastically tranquil rural garden centre. Well worth a visit if you're in the area.

Another lovely I have kept going for nearly twenty years is a small and beaultiful variety called "Redondo", it has very darkly marked leaves and an absolutely crimson flower. I would describe it as semi-dwarf in habit, the leaves are about one to one and a half inches in diameter at maximum.

Beautiful.

While we're on the subject - what about peonies? I've tried collecting the seed and taking cuttings and nothing's worked. Now I've split a small chunk of the root off with a wee bud. I've heard they don't like moving. I've just put it in a pot in the greenhouse, covered completely with soil.

Does that sound right? Any other advice?

I think I heard someone on GW last year say that the reason why people think peonies don't like being moved is because most people plant them too deeply and they don't like it. Or was it the opposite? Perhaps you could search their website and check it out?

Hi Tigger,
You are correct in people planting too deep and you will note that they are a very shallow growing plant.
Malk, by splitting them probably will not work if you mean taking off one of the tuberous roots.
Seeds of Peonies must be conditioned before sowing and should you want to know more please PM me and I will send you particulars of how and when.
That goes for anybody else who is interested.
JB.

I took some tubers from a peony in my MIL's garden about 20 years ago. It took a couple of years to flower but now does so every year. Some little tiny tubers ,that dropped off the clump I planted, were put in elsewhere and although they took some time they also have had flowers on for the last few years.