Late Winter

I usually hold off sowing until Mid February, however if sown too late plants won’t achieve the vegetative growth needed. They also take a couple of weeks to germinate, by which time the light levels will be better. 

Seeds need light for germination, do not cover with soil. Seeds will germinate at temperatures of at least 15°c, a cold greenhouse in autumn naturally provides perfect conditions, in late winter start seeds indoors.

Similar to larkspur, poppies in general resent root disturbance, sow one seed per cell (do not prick out). Pot on only once seedlings have completely filled their cells and pop out as a plug.

Pot on into 15 cell trays (or pots) before planting out into their final positions.

To keep root disturbance to a minimum I will again wait for the poppies to fill their new containers before planting. This way i find the poppies don’t even notice they have been moved and grow vigorously.

Plants will be satisfyingly big with huge green leaves.

The first of the flower spikes will appear early in May from an autumn sowing and June for a late winter sowing (of course always depending on the weather and the spring we are having). Buds peel open to reveal show stopping flowers.

After the petals drop seed pods will be revealed and slowly start to swell in size.

The seed pods will make plants a bit top heavy, so providing support early on will keep flowers poker straight and plants upright during heavy rain showers and wind.

Bamboo canes work well for staking, tied in with garden twine.

Autumn Jump Starter

Papaver somniferum ‘Bowling Ball’ are the most pollinator friendly plants I have ever grown, the flowers are surrounded by bee’s.

In late Spring/ early summer flowers start to unfurl in shades of vibrant magenta red, purple and lilac.

After the petals drop giant seed pods start to develop, swelling up to 6cm in diameter!

This is really like growing two plants in one, you have the flowers, then you have the seed pods to enjoy. Seed pods can then be used fresh in arrangements, or dried for everlasting stems to use in the Winter.

Poppies – Papaver somniferum ‘Bowling Ball’ (Potting on) 15 November 2023

Time to pot on our poppies, but don’t worry if you plants are not ready yet. It is far better to wait until they have filled their 40 cell trays to minimise any root disturbance. These are fast growing so they will catch up in the next couple of weeks.