I would leave them. My poppies went in in hunks. There were at least 20 tiny seedlings in each hunk. The strongest ones are breaking lose and reaching for the sky. The weaker ones are starting to die off.

That's exactly what I was thinking of doing, however, mine
are many more than 20 per chunk. It's warming up here..so..
in the ground they go. Thanks!

Just spread the hunks over a large area. You'll have lots of reseeders this summer. Next year, you'll be pulling unwanted ones.

"Pulling unwanted ones" I can't imagine that, I really can't. I am moving some plants that are great spreaders this year but "pulling up" I don't know about that.

Flood,
that's my problem. The instructions say to thin them, but I can't let go of any.
I want them all.

Slap them into the ground and move onto the next project. They will take over the decision process.

Bakemom always has the best advice in these situations. Really, with this method, you will have lots of flowers. And reseeders will reward you for your patience next year.

I love that advice! I may be able to slap some poppies in the ground soon. Mine are getting big now.

None of the DS ones have shown up yet though.
Karen

Karen, my direct sown ones came up a few weeks after the wintersown ones, but they're doing better. The poppies are the only thing I haven't seen real growth in. Maybe transplanting them slowed them down. They're still out there, just sitting.

Thanks Token. I heard poppies may resent transplanting so I thought I might try to transplant them when young and maybe they won't get mad at me and not grow ;)

I guess if my back is up to it I will plant out my first seedlings this weekend. The poppies are getting big!

I have some others that have bigger leaves too. This WS'ing really works!
Karen

I used the HOS method to transplant my poppies into a flower box last year. I haven't seen any volunteer poppies this year, I didn't know they could be self seeders. I collected seeds from them once the heat and humidity put a stop to their bloom. These seeds have been WS and are now ready for transplanting.

-StlGirl

I am biting my nails over this too since when I transplanted last year they all died, but I may have waited too long. Could someone post a pic of some poppy sprouts that are ready to be planted/transplanted? I am still unsure of the stage they should be ready.
Thanks,
Gladys

I put mine out when they were tiny-tiny. I was so scared of waiting too long that I may have done it too early.Mine are not growing and they are not dying. They are just waiting. Patiently, might I add. I just put a whole big hunk of them in the bed and hoped for the best. Then re-sowed dome more just in case.

Mine are also very small but they've been sprouted for a while. No second sets of leaves, so I guess I should wait, right? Or do poppies not get cots, or true leaves or maybe not show them for a long long time?
I would also love to see a picture of poppies ready to be planted. Anyone have one?
Thanks!!

Life of a Poppy Bed is a fine photo essay shared by WildGarden of Virginia. It's an excellent piece showing the progression of poppies planted out via hunk-o-seedlings.

T

Here is a link that might be useful: Life of a Poppy Bed

Those pictures were very helpful.
Thank you very much Trudi!!!

Great photos.
Poppies are also among my favorite flowers.
I like CA poppies.
Mine have already re-seeded from last year.
New for me is allegro dwarf poppy - they germinated really well.
Next I put them in my community garden and leave them in the container to acclimate to the different microclimate there.

Then into the ground.

e

Trudi, that link was helpful! I think I have seen that page before but needed a refresher.

My poppies are not quite as big as those yet. I have some in a lasagna pan and they are getting full though.

Karen