Abstract
Forcing methods of tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) timed for New Years Day were investigated. Garlic paste applied to the flower bud after chilling promoted bud sprouting and leaf extension. This treatment also accelerated flowering, advancing harvest time to the middle of December. Pre-chilling treatment had a similar effect on flowering although the effectiveness depended on the cultivar. A combination treatment of pre-chilling and garlic paste resulted in flowering at the end of November when applied to a cultivar in which dormancy was less deep.
