Can I seed oriental poppy etc on top of mulch
forever_a_newbie_VA8
5 months ago
last modified: 5 months ago
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Help with Oriental Poppy Seeds
Comments (4)The ones I scattered in early spring didn't come up, but the ones I winter sowed did. They weren't Oriental though. Maybe just after they germinated they didn't get enough water? Or too much like after a hard rain? I don't experience any damping off when direct sowing outside so I doubt it's that. I attribute my scattering failure to dry soil, but has it ever rained since. It says on the packet to scatter them in the fall or early spring when the soil is damp and cold. Said to sow in circles, and clumps of about 1" diameter and 2" tall can be transplanted. Those seeds that require light to germinate have to be kept moist until they put down deep enough roots, but yours evidently got enough moisture to germinate....See MoreOriental Poppy Seed pods, what to do?
Comments (5)I agree with Kevin :-) In fact, unless you want oriental poppies all over your garden area (and yes, they are very difficult to transplant), I'd just cut off the seed pods, green or brown, and get rid of them. There is such a thing as too many oriental poppies! And are you sure they are oriental poppies? Peony or breadseed poppies (Papaver somniferum) are very common in this area and have now finished flowering and gone to seed. I'd always shake a few of their seed pods around when I pulled out the plants at the end of their season (these are annuals) and that provided more than enough new plants for next season. Typically, these seeds will remain doramnt until early next spring and you can thin or remove as necessary when they appear then and are still small....See MoreI can't grow poppies. I must have poppies.
Comments (49)Carrie- does the packet happen to have the species name on it? It depends on which kind it is and where you are. Here in the raleigh area, poppies bloom starting in late april through late may. Unless we have exceptionally cool weather i don't think you're going to get reliable blooms for mid-june here. That said, if you're a good bit further toward the mountains (and 7A says it's colder than here which is 8a/7b), then you might just squeak some blooms out if they are shirlies- p. rhoes-, or p. somniferums, aka bread box or opium poppies. My guess is that 'giant peonies' are somniferums, but there are rhoes cultivars that are double and called peony, too. They aren't nearly as large as the somniferums when they bloom, but just as pretty. If it's either of them, i'd sow the rest of your packet in just a week or 2- don't wait any longer or they won't get big enough (like you've already observed in the past). They need light to germinate, so sow them directly on the surface and just tamp them down or walk on them. I wouldn't worry about hardiness- poppies like cold to germinate. Another flower that would be a more reliable bloomer for that time of year would be daylilies if you can find a friend who has some they'd let you use. Another nice plant for bridal bouquets (if a bit wild) is queen anne's lace. It does wilt fairly fast so you have to plan to pick and use it the same day. You can find it in fields or along the road. Not sure of your colors, but as you mentioned, larkspur are nice and easy, as are nigella and bachelor's buttons. They all bloom about the same time as the poppies but keep going a bit longer. also, poppies and nigella have nice seed pods you might consider using. Good luck!...See MoreOriental Poppies - can't make them grow
Comments (11)Cat, I was the recipient of some of your poppies, and we did manage to transplant some of them, but unfortunately it was about a week or so after the swap, and let's just say that they weren't happy. As we planted them in a new "tree ring" that we had built, we planted lots of stuff around them. They weren't happy at being re-transplanted, but didn't immediately keel over (although they sure wilted to beat the band, the little drama queens), but then they did kind of 'go away.' We did sell the house, so I don't know if I'll be able to report that they come back up next year or not--we haven't yet driven back past the old place since we left, and might not come spring. I do have to say that the grape hyacinths that we took home that day did a similar sob story--major wilt and passed out; I though they were goners for sure. However, before we vacated on 8/23, I did see that they were sending up new tendrils of green, seeking some strength to store for the coming winter. I'll be sure to ask my old neighbors, with whom we are still friends, if they see any poppies in the spring, cuz if I had to answer right now, my money would not be on seeing them in the spring--again, alot of that would be our fault for the major delay in getting them into the ground. However, that purple-flowering vine (I can't remember who brought it) that nobody knew what it was and was touted as possibly taking over an area? Yep, that stuff was going bananas--taking over the new tree ring, but not blooming,in the shade, under the tree... maybe it was a full sun plant? I thought I saw some of it blooming when we were at the zoo this past weekend, the hummingbirds were going nuts over it! I'd sure like to have some more of that for the new digs come spring!...See Moreforever_a_newbie_VA8
5 months agoforever_a_newbie_VA8
5 months agoforever_a_newbie_VA8
5 months agoforever_a_newbie_VA8
23 days agorosaprimula
23 days ago
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