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Poppies/papaver

*Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
in Plants
hi hello helpful people! I’ve grown some poppies from seed I collected last year they are doing really well with the roots now bursting out of the pots! I think they’re papaver somniferum, although as they were not bought ones I don’t know the exact variety.

I can pot them on, they’re in 9 cm pots now but I’m wondering if I should plant them outside? Looking at seed info it says they’re a hardy annual but not to plant out until after the last frost, but it also says can be grown outside from March, so I’m a bit confused! I do live in a fairly cold area and the garden is north facing.

I have grown them in a cold greenhouse but I’m running out of room & want to start sowing some more seeds especially from next month, so should I pot them on & try & keep crammed them in the greenhouse till april/may which will be a pain or plant them out & see what happens or just put half out & see what happens?

Posts

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    I would plant them out, they are perfectly hardy.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Depending on how many you've got, you could hedge your bets and plant some out and some on. If your garden is North facing, and cold, l would personally pot them on into slightly bigger pots. If you don't have a coldframe you can put them up against the house wall for shelter from the worst of the weather, and also to acclimatise them.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Given the unpredictability of the weather just now, I'd agree with @AnniD.  
    We have plenty of these in this garden ( coastal Somerset ) and they are prolific self seeders.  
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Whatever you do, don't try and separate them individually as they absolutely hate root disturbance, which is why they are usually direct-sown.  I would do as @punkdoc suggested.  You can try gently teasing any large clumps into smaller ones, with the expectation that only 1 poppy per small clump will survive.  If you have any seed left, you could also sprinkle some over the area you've planted the clumps into, as insurance, and to prolong the flowering. :)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
    Thanks everyone! I have planted 4 out in the garden they were in individual pots so haven’t had much root disturbance, I’ll put some seeds round them too so hopefully I’ll get something surviving!! I’ve now got a bit of space in the greenhouse I’m dying to get sowing seeds!
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Well done on getting them started in pots! Mine self-seed all over very well but when I've collected seed and tried to sow it in pots, no luck, and they don't transplant well either. I'm resigned to having them where they want to be, not necessarily where I would put them :).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
    JennyJ More luck than skill on my part!
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