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Poppys

pokhimpokhim Posts: 210

HI there,

I would like to grow some poppys for next year; either from seed or little plugs. 

If i grow by seed is it best to plant out now? What about planting little plugs instead?.

thanks 

Posts

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,091
    Chloe Kraven says:

    Plugs seem pointless to me - but perhaps they have their place in more difficult climates...

    See original post

     ...or in gardens where seedlings get eaten before they have a chance to establish.

    The annuals like Californian, welsh and opium poppies all grow fairly easily from seed just scattered as Chloe suggests. And once you have them you'll probably always have them, though not always the same colour or in the same place. Perennials such as the oriental poppies don't always come true from seed. You could throw annual poppy seed down now and chances are some would come up next spring (that is basically how the self seeded ones happen, after all) but you'll probably get more if you wait til spring - not as many will be eaten by birds or rot in the wet over winter.

    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    If these are the native Papaver rhoeas I'd sow them  now where you want them to flower. It's what the plants are doing

    Last edited: 18 September 2016 21:14:55



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • pokhimpokhim Posts: 210

    Thanks for ur replies.. bit of a newb question... But if I sow them by seed now..how do I know what is a poppy and what is a weed in spring???

    i guess I only really have 1 weed in my garden and that is annual Mercury.. But how do u know what is a weed or flower?? 

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,091

    Sow the seeds in a deliberate shape - a V or a cross - and mark it with a nice big label. Anything that grows out of line is a weed. You'll get some weeds in amongst most likely but you can take those out once the seedlings are a bit bigger and you'll be able to see the difference 

    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
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