When should i plant poppies from seeds

Quite possibly the most popular wildflower in America, poppies deserve a rightful place in every garden, wildflower meadow and pasture. Offered in a delightfully surprising range of colors and growth habits, poppies grace their locations with great charisma.

Even their name is suitably evocative! But there is also the Eschscholzia californica family and we carry 12 of those varieties. Poppy blooms may be single, double or semi double boasting amazing texture and size. Their flower colors range from vibrant to subdued — from deepest crimson, bright orange and yellow to soft pink, dusty peach, rose, lilac, and cream.

Poppy seeds need to be cold stratified to germinate. Learn how to cold stratify your seed here. Poppies are not easy to transplant and actually do not fare well if their roots are disturbed, so starting them indoors is not recommended. Directly sow poppies outdoors in early spring even if threat of frost still exists. Poppies are frost tolerant and germinate best in cool weather and soil, sow your poppy seeds as early as the ground can be worked.

Poppies bloom profusely under cool growing conditions. In areas with cold winters, sow poppy seeds in the spring. In warmer areas like Arizona , sow seeds in late fall October — December.

Seedlings will emerge in the spring. Learn to identify what young seedlings look like and remove weeds. Because poppy seeds are so small, there are often abundant seedlings even when carefully sown. If left to grow, they will choke each other out. When plants are too close together, there is often inadequate air flow and they are more susceptible to pests and disease.

Allow remaining plants to grow undisturbed. Provide fertile soil and adequate water for germination, and then poppies are relatively easy to care for.

Stake larger varieties if desired , and water poppies during dry spells. The larger-stemmed varieties of poppies make a beautiful cut flower. Cut stems nearly down to the ground just as blooms begins to crack open; poppies continue to open and develop once harvested. Remove all leaves from stem, and place in water.

Blooms will last about 5 days in a vase. Sear cut ends in hot water or with a match for longest lasting blooms. Use beautiful seed pods fresh or dried in cut flower arrangements. Harvest seed pods as soon as the petals fall off. Beautiful seed pods form after the petals fall off. California poppy seeds form on a long stem. Pick the stems off the plant when it browns, but before it opens and releases seeds. Poppies are famously difficult to transplant, so starting them indoors is not recommended.

Seeds will sprout in days. Starting Sow on the surface of the soil, or barely cover seeds. Growing Poppies are easy to grow and the self-sow with abandon, without becoming weedy.

Simply pull up unwanted plants an easy task before they bloom, or better yet, let them tell you where they want to grow. Keep them moderately well watered in hot, dry weather, and do not fertilize.