The Garden Community for Garden Lovers
 
sjw

By Sjw

gloucestershire, United Kingdom Gb

I have collected seed heads of papaver poppies from friends gardens, I am best scattering in my garden now or saving them for next year, do they do best sowed straight into the garden or will I have much success by sowing them in seed trays and bringing on, thanks




Answers

 

Papaver is the name (genus) for all the poppy family, so it depends on which variety your friends had. Was it papaver somniferum (opium poppy) for example, or papaver orientale (oriental poppy) or Iceland poppies (p.nudicaule)?
Some are biennial, some perennial, some annual. Sowing in the height of summer is unlikely to be successful as they won't germinate if conditions are dry and for biennial types sowing in the autumn would be better. The annual and biennial types don't transplant easily so would be better sown directly in the soil.
Personally I'd recommend sowing them all in spring when the soil has warmed up.
I've never raised the perennial Papaver Orientale from seed but I'd guess this would be better done in a seed tray or a pot.

14 Jul, 2010

How do I say thanks?

Answer question

Related photos

  • Basket Mix
    Davebat59
  • Conical "Witch Hat" planter with Mimulus "Magic Rainbow" and trailing Bizzy Lizzy "Spellbound"
    David
  • tower of flowers at Garstang
    Sanbaz
  • Winter pansies, ready for the long haul....:o(
    Janey

Related blogs

 


Related questions

Not found an answer?