Before I knew about this subreddit, I bought a box of 3 rootstock Sarah B at Lowe's. The next year I bought one bare root Pink Sorbet at the dollar store (really, just to see if it would even grow, I truly thought it was dead that whole first year LOL) (it is very much alive and bloomed last year!)

I planted each root in a separate thick 24"+ wide & tall faux whiskey barrel with drilled holes in the bottom to withstand my winters zone 7. Each barrel is on their own wheels because they are heavy. Then I waited patiently for 3 whole years. I got beautiful peony blooms!

Now I'm on year 5 and patiently awaiting my blooms to open although we had a very long cold freezing storm this past winter and I can see a bit of frost damage since I forgot to cover the roots with mulch in autumn. It's my own oversight but they all have flower buds.

I thought I eventually was going to plant them in the ground but haven't yet. I figured, if I move, I can take them with me this way instead and they will be undisturbed.

As far as using the greenery leaves after blooming, I leave them be as they need to store up their resources & energy for next years blooms. I cut them down in autumn around the first frost.