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What to do with these poppy seedlings?

msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
in Plants
I sowed some poppy somniferum in 9cm pots in Apr and many have germinated. I've not grown them before, and the information on the Premier seeds website says that they don't transplant well. But I have no other choice as we have clay soil here and direct sowing and self-seeding never worked.... apart from weeds and forget-me-nots!

Just wondering if I can prick out the seedlings and pot up in bigger pots as I do with other seedlings, or plant the whole clump out to the ground? Would like to hear if someone has tips on successfully transplanting poppy seedlings pls? Thanks!


Posts

  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    I don't know if they have the same issue but I've grown some Iceland poppies from seed this year. They were originally in pots but I put them in the ground and they are loving life  😁
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    The less you disturb the roots the more likely they are to grow. So if you can get each out with some compost intact that would be good. Don't transplant well doesn't mean you can't do it and if you get spindly little plants this year, as long as they flower, next year in the soil, they will be better. There will be thousands of them in the soil and some will germinate, they are quite competitive and start early .



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I have clay soil and in a sunny part of the garden I have just been hoeing them out as there were so many.
    They seem to do much better if sown directly into the soil, they come up year on year but often the pale purples dominate so I try to stop these setting seed.
    I have tried them in post but the germination was poor. They do look very soft do you think they are tough enough to go out? When you are happy I would carefully plant them in the ground individually.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    Thanks all for the comments! I'll probably try pricking out and potting up some, and direct planting some to diversify my bets then. 

    I've scattered lots of poppy seeds and foxglove seeds in our garden, and don't think I've seen anything coming up.... Maybe all overwhelmed by the weeds and grasses... 
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    I think that if you try and separate out all the tiny seedlings, you are going to end up with a lot of unhappy, and possibly dead opium poppies. If you can pull out the weakest seedlings and just leave one more robust specimen in each pot you stand a better chance of growing a few plants that can go out later in the year once they have bulked up a bit.
    I have a lot of opium poppies in my garden and they self seed like mad so I end up pulling out a lot but last year I had a handful of dark purple poppies that I had grown in pots and it took them a long while to catch up with the wild plants. If you can scatter poppy seeds at the end of summer you stand a much better chance of getting a decent crop the following year......follow the regime used by the plants themselves.
    The seed pods make a great addition to dried flower arrangements.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Like @Ceres I have the opium poppies popping up all over the garden - if I catch them soon enough when they are tiny and growing in my veg beds, I have transplanted successfully but as a general rule, they don't like to be moved once they have settled in their preferred spot.
    Those which have self seeded in various pots of bulbs will be left alone - too much disruption to the bulbs.
    As said, the dried heads can be used in various arrangements - if you want something a bit brighter, they can also be painted  :)
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    If I have special Opium poppies, that I want in specific places, I have always started them in module trays. I thin to 1 per cell, and can then plant out with little root disturbance, always works for me. It was the method C. Lloyd used, so I stole it from him.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You could also try just dividing the clumps into smaller ones and planting those. You can always pull out some if they're too crowded. 
    It's often mentioned about root disturbance with lots of plants, but, as @nutcutlet says, it doesn't mean you can't do it. It's often just a question of taking your time and being careful   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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