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How to Grow Perennial Poppies
How to Grow Perennial Poppies. All of the perennial poppies are part of the genus papavar in the poppy family. Some of the poppies in this genus are annuals and some are perennials. The Oriental poppy and the Iceland poppy are two examples of perennial poppies. Poppies are self-sowing flowers. The seeds from the spent poppy flowers will fall and...
All of the perennial poppies are part of the genus papavar in the poppy family. Some of the poppies in this genus are annuals and some are perennials. The Oriental poppy and the Iceland poppy are two examples of perennial poppies. Poppies are self-sowing flowers. The seeds from the spent poppy flowers will fall and plant themselves in the soil where they will grow into a new flower. Remove poppies that grow in unwanted areas by picking out the flower and root with your hands.
Things You'll Need
Organic compost
Garden rake
Poppy seeds
Sand
Plastic Bag
Sphagnum peat moss
Garden
Add a 3-inch layer of organic compost to the poppy planting area. You need to do this in early spring, as soon as the ground is soft. Work the compost into the soil with a large garden rake. Mix the compost into the top 6 inches of soil. Use the rake to level the soil out after mixing.
Mix 1 part poppy seeds with 1 part sand in a plastic bag. Adding sand to your seeds will ensure a more even coverage than seeds alone.
Sprinkle the seed/sand mixture over the planting area. Do not clump the mixture in any area, rather try to cover the soil evenly with the seeds.
Sprinkle a very thin layer -- less than one-eighth of an inch -- of sphagnum peat moss over the seeds. The seeds need light to germinate. You want to be able to see the seeds through the soil.
Water the poppy planting area with a watering can. Using a garden hose may cause runoff and a shifting of the seeds. Water the seeds every day until germination. Once the seeds begin to grow, you will only need to perform supplemental waterings during periods of drought.
Pull out extra poppies when the plants are approximately 1-inch tall. You want to leave the remaining poppies no closer than 6 to 10 inches. The poppy plants will spread throughout the growing season.
Tips & Warnings
All of the poppy plant is poisonous, except the ripe seeds.
If someone ingests any of the poppy plant, call the poison control center at 800-222-1222.
The Opium poppy is illegal to grow throughout the United States.
Do not use chemical sprays on poppy plants -- insecticides or pesticides -- as poppies are very sensitive to chemicals.
Poppies do not need any fertilizer, in fact, fertilizer may harm poppy plants.
