Poppies this year?

[dogsbody]

I am planning to try and grow a significant number of red (Flanders) poppies this year for commemorative reasons. In the past I have always struggled to grow more than the odd one or two. Has anyone any good tips on how to improve my success rate?

[Bill HH]

Poppies on my patch are a nuisance, they keep popping up everywhere (maybe thats where they got the name from). even in poor conditions they thrive only smaller I can't be of much help I am afraid,but I'm sure someone can.

[mothhawk]

Poppies are like lettuce. They prefer cooler temperatures for germination (round about 15C). They need light to germinate, so don't cover the seeds, but then you need to make sure they don't dry out as they have no protective covering of moist soil.

Are you sowing them in situ, or in pots? Either way, I'd be inclined to scatter/sow the seeds now.
If in pots, leave them outside and cover with a sheet of glass or similar to protect from too much rain until they germinate.
If in situ, work the soil to a fine tilth and scatter the seeds. Give them a gentle sprinkling of water to settle them in, then leave them to germinate in their own time.

[mothhawk]

You might find the info on this page useful

World Seed Supply’s Guide to Perfect Poppies

[mothhawk]

Oh, and here's a thought, succession sow, so once the first seeds are up and growing, scatter some more, that way you'll get a longer blooming period.

[dogsbody]

Thanks guys, I have just ordered 140,000 seeds off Amaz** so will follow your advice.

I suspect there may be an element of guerilla gardening indulged in too!!

[Two_Sheds]

Poppies on my patch are a nuisance

On my patch they are beneficial . The ones on the edges of the beds are allowed to flower: the bees love them.

The ones in the "wrong place" are pulled up, chopped up & left on the soil as a mulch ~ they soon disappear, & add goodness to the soil.

Oh, and here's a thought, succession sow

On GQT they recommended that you succession sow them, because they are tricky to germinate. So, sow in intervals, every few weeks from now until late spring, and don't cover the seed

[chris]

I have a load of self seeded ones that in turn self seed everywhere. The ones I do want to grow never do! (Breadseed poppy)


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[PyreneesPlot]

A bit extreme perhaps, but when our house was built the land was stripped off, the topsoil stacked and then redistributed once again after the build.



Poppies appeared first the following spring.



They now come up all over the place.

[Shadylane]

I find they germinate better if sown autumn or late sumer when they would naturally self seed. When I've scattered in spring they often don't bother. Self seeding deffo seems more effective.

[mothhawk]

I have a load of self seeded ones that in turn self seed everywhere. The ones I do want to grow never do! (Breadseed poppy)

You can eat the seeds of the Flanders (field or common) poppy, Chris, also the young leaves, raw or cooked though I've never tried them.

[chris]

Indeed, but these flowers are a shade of purple


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[mothhawk]

Opium poppies?



Sow them just like Flanders poppies - cool temperature and they NEED light to germinate so don't cover them at all. (That's why poppies pop up when land is ploughed - buried seeds are exposed to light and start to grow)

Opium poppies in Hampshire

[alldigging]

Thanks guys, I have just ordered 140,000 seeds off Amaz** so will follow your advice.

I suspect there may be an element of guerilla gardening indulged in too!!

That nearly cost me my keyboard!
Just took a sip of tea and scrolled down!
That's a LOT of seeds! )

[dogsbody]

Sorry AD but before you read on put your tea down!

140,000 seeds costs:

















£4.99 - delivered

Couple that with time on my hands when I retire - the possibilities are endless!