What's the best plant food for peony plants?

I have planted 2 peony rhyzomes in my front garden and although they have sprouted ,they are still very small.Is this normal for this time of year?Is there a suitable plant food to help them get established? I thought that peonies were lime loving plants and wondered if the ericaceous plant food I have for a tub planted azalea might be suitable - is this suitable?

What's the best plant food for peony plants?
All I have ever done is use hardwood mulch and let it naturally deteriorate, and then my peony's just get bigger and more beautiful each year. I never had to give them much care, but never MOW them down and keep the grass from growing up around them. The ground may be too hard. You may need to dig them this fall, work the soil, then replant. Check your local area as to how deep to plant them so they won't come up too early and freeze.
Reply:Thank you so much for picking my answer as the best. This goes to everyone who has done so. As you can tell, I'm a country gal and learned the old ways. Again, Thanks for the vote! Report It

Reply:Just water. Dont let the soil get dry
Reply:thats easy peony food.
Reply:miracle grow
Reply:I planted my 4" Peony over 3 years ago and it is just now about 1/1/2 ft tall and with blooms, if you transplant them they will also take another 4 years to flower.
Reply:farm yard manure worked into the bed before planting !. if the rhyzomes are new do not expect great things this year next may or june things should get better with flowers cover rhyzomes this winter to protect from frost goodluck .


tip ie peony do not like to be transplanted .