- 1). Harvest peonies when the flower buds feel soft like a marshmallow. Use a sharp knife to cut the stems of the peonies however long you want them to be. Pendleton's Country Market cuts off the peonies it grows with 14- to 16-inch stems.
- 2). Take the peonies indoors and out of the sunlight. Pull off the leaves from the bottom, leaving just one or two on the top of the stem.
- 3). Divide the peonies up ten to a bunch. Grab a bunch and turn it upside down. Gently hit the heads of the peonies on a hard, flat surface until they are all the same height. Repeat this step with the remaining bunches.
- 4). Wrap each bunch in old newspaper to keep peonies in fridge. Lay out a piece of newspaper large enough to cover a bunch of the flowers completely. Place the peonies on a corner of the paper and carefully wrap them until you reach the middle. Fold the top corner of the newspaper down, then finish wrapping. Leave the bottom open for ventilation.
- 5). Place the bundles in a single layer in the coldest part of your fridge. Do not place in water; the peonies will draw humidity from the fridge. Check on them periodically. If you find any of the peonies have wet newspaper, rewrap them in dry paper.
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