Success after Five years trying - a blue poppy flowers...

[Madasafish]

Grown from seed last year, watered in shade in summer, overwintered.. and at least five plants and the first two are flowering.

[lottie dolly]

Congratulations,a few years ago i paid good money for 1 potted plant,it did no good,so well done you.

[SarrissUK]

Oh wow, it's beautiful!

[nickdub]

My plants which I grew from seed are still v small but are gradually getting bigger - I reckon most won't flower until next year but that's fine by me.

[Mitzi]

Congratulations! That's beautiful.

[mrbadexample]

I've got one of these in a pot that I bought from the Himalayan Garden at Grewelthorpe earlier this month.



I haven't yet decided where to put it, so if you could share some tips / advice please that'd be brilliant.

Everything from soil requirements to location to care - I forgot to ask while I was there, and I'm subsequently led to believe they're not quite straightforward.

[Madasafish]

I've got one of these in a pot that I bought from the Himalayan Garden at Grewelthorpe earlier this month.

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I haven't yet decided where to put it, so if you could share some tips / advice please that'd be brilliant.

Everything from soil requirements to location to care - I forgot to ask while I was there, and I'm subsequently led to believe they're not quite straightforward.

They like:
light shade
well drained but damp soil (tip on clay from a lady who gardens semi professionally: if clay soil, excavate a 20cm diameter circle down about 40-50cm. Replace soil in excavation with a loam/grit/leaf mulch mix.
.
They dislike:
direct sun
roots in water in winter
being dry in summer

I sowed seed last Feb in light potting compost (no fertiliser), left out in cold frame - sunny , froze in Beast from the East, germinated, potted on light loam then placed against a North facing wall and waitered a lot in hot summer. Big deep pots. Set up a sunshield for sun from the West. Placed in sheltered space in garden - North facing side of hedge which is damp but water drains away Willow to East and Buddleia to West shield form early/late sun...Left to overwinter.. Hey presto

Picture of location.

[Snoop Puss]

Beautiful. Lovely location, too.

[mrbadexample]

They like:
light shade...

Thanks, much appreciated.

[Babru]

They are beautiful, and lovely alongside the pink aquilegia. Where did you get the seed? Named variety, from a pal etc. Not sure how fresh it needs to be to get good germination like you've managed.

[Dynamite]

That’s great news. I’ve tried to grow from seed for three seasons now. All in vain, every time!

Well done.

Kind Regards.............Rob

[Madasafish]

They are beautiful, and lovely alongside the pink aquilegia. Where did you get the seed? Named variety, from a pal etc. Not sure how fresh it needs to be to get good germination like you've managed.

ebay , named variety. Lingholm sold by https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/combleyplants

They need cold to germinate. So sowed on top of compost in seed tray, light covering (1mm) of compost, water, left in open cold frame where they can get soaked and frosted. They need cold to germinate - as I said above,, Beast from East job last year. (tried fridge, worked but not as well). Pricked out when just enough leaf to handle using teaspoon and take surrounding soil. Pots in open cold frame.. Keep MOIST.
Toooooo much sun will kill them so shaded.
Drying out will kill them.
Slugs will kill them..
Root disturbance will kill them

[nickdub]

I tried all sorts to germinate these poppies with no success - then last year I bought a plant and saved the seed which I sowed in the Autumn and left out in a tray - they came up like mustard and cress, over 100 seedlings, so my theory is fresh seed is a must and to get fresh seed buying a plant may be the best guarantee.

[mrbadexample]

They like:
light shade
well drained but damp soil (tip on clay from a lady who gardens semi professionally: if clay soil, excavate a 20cm diameter circle down about 40-50cm. Replace soil in excavation with a loam/grit/leaf mulch mix.

This must have worked, because despite this:

They dislike...
roots in water in winter

It ain't dead yet.

[Babru]

Good for you, fingers crossed they do well this year.

I've had them self sow in my last garden (Edinburgh must be cold and damp enough to keep them happy). Planted two in part shade autumn 2018 and they flowered beautifully last spring. BUT! Once I looked again at the variety I realise it is sterile, so no seeds. However I think this makes them flower a little bit longer, so pluses and minuses.

Anyway, a point to consider if you're buying a plant you want to get seed from.

The grower (Macplants in East Lothian, who specialise in meconopsis) tells me they should be divided every three years or so, so I'll get more plants then.