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Oriental poppies - to get seeds do I have to wait until pods have browned?

yarrow2yarrow2 Posts: 782
in Plants
I'm needing to dig out coral pink oriental poppy plants which have been in a spot for years which I'm clearing out to make a bean/pea bit for next year.  They've been beautiful for years but this year the petals were so unusually large that they looked a mess and it's time to dig them out as there are far too many.

Right now, the seedpods are still firm and green.   I know I won't succeed in trying to transplant the plants and I need to clear their space now.  I had thought I'd keep some seeds and try and grow some fresh new plants to go in a better spot and I'm contemplating digging them up and trying root cuttings but, I'm not confident I'd make a success of that.   

Is it possible to cut the stems now whilst the seedpods are green and not matured and hang them until they dry and I can get access to the seeds later?   Or do I have to leave the plant until the seedpods turn brown in order to have mature enough seeds?

Digging the plants out and attempting root cuttings probably seems the most logical thing but as I've never tried it before I was hoping getting at the seeds would be easier for me.

What to do?






Posts

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    No, the seeds won't mature without being attached to the parent plant.  I would suggest you try with the root cuttings and just take plenty and hope a number are successful.  The seeds may not even bloom true, so a root cutting is probably your best option for the same coral pink.  https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-propagate-oriental-poppies/
    Utah, USA.
  • yarrow2yarrow2 Posts: 782
    Appreciate your response Blue Onion - and yes, I think root cuttings is the way I'm going to have to go.  Thank you.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    I suppose the only other way to try is to pull a few whole plants and set them aside to dry, roots and all, if you have plenty. That way you could have seed, and then test plant some to see if they are viable next year.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Try root cuttings, particularly if you want plants the same as the parent. And any bits of root that you leave behind will probably grow back too.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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