![]() You might want to do a soil test for nitrogen to ensure that the soil is sufficiently fertile. It’s best to prepare the ground in advance so you can direct sow the seeds in late fall or early spring. Poppies need a garden site with full sun exposure and fertile soil to produce the best flowers and seed crops. Transplant them right after the last frost date for your area, being very careful not to disturb the roots while you handle them. Sow the seeds in a sterilized seed tray filled with seed starting mix and keep the containers in direct light or under grow lights at a temperature of about 60☏.Īfter germination, let the seedling grow for about four to six weeks. While direct sowing of poppy seeds is optimum, some people prefer not to thin the plants in the garden and instead start seedlings indoors. Keep the soil surface moist during germination, which takes 2 to 4 weeks. Then, you can broadcast seeds on the surface or sow them lightly in rows 1 to 2 feet apart.īarely cover the seeds with a fine layer of soil not more than ⅛ inch deep because the seeds require light to germinate. Lightly spray the soil surface with water after sowing, being careful not to wash them out of place. Rake the ground and get it into a fine texture before you plant the seeds. Poppies need a location with full sun exposure and fertile, rapidly draining soil. This process, called cold stratification, can also be done artificially by keeping the seeds in a damp paper towel in the fridge for a few weeks. Sow the seeds outdoors in late fall or early spring.įreezing and thawing can aid in germination. Therefore, sowing them directly into a well-prepared garden bed is the best way of ensuring success. However, when planting, always use fresh seeds that are no more than one year old because viability rapidly declines after a year. Caucasus poppy ( Papaver commutatum), also known as Ladybird poppy, has stunning, bright red flowers with eye-catching dark spots, making it an especially attractive ornamental for flowerbeds.įor culinary purposes, poppy seeds retain their flavor for a long time. ![]() The large flower pods produce an abundance of excellent seeds for culinary uses.
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