skip to main content

Perennials Winter Sowing

Planting poppies in zone 5b?

lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan

2 years ago

I became mesmerized by a beautiful poppy I saw on Pinterest, and some google searches led me to ”Princess Victoria Louise”. I promptly ordered a packet of seeds from Etsy (which I will be receiving next week) and began researching planting them. Some sites say to put the seeds out in fall, others in early spring. Can I start them indoors to give them a head start and then transplant them as seedlings? Am I supposed to put them in the fridge first to simulate the cold outdoors, and then plant the seeds? I’ve never grown any perennials from seed before (just veggies) so this is new to me. Thanks!

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

2 years ago

SOWING INSTRUCTIONS:

Depth: Very light cover; cover with black paper, as this seed germinates best in darkness.
Sprout Time: 7-21 days
Starting Indoors: Sow in pots 6-8 weeks before last frost, cover lightly with vermiculite or a humidity dome and keep at 65-70°F until germination, then at 50-60°F. Be very gentle when transplanting, as poppies do not like to be disturbed.
Starting Outdoors: Direct sow in late spring. Cover to provide darkness until germination occurs.
When to Set Outside: After last frost

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

mazerolm_3a
2 years ago
I have it and it is beautiful!

Impatient Gardener posted a video on this in January 2021. she’s also in 5b. Here’s the link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vjTvWa6zJSY
lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan thanked mazerolm_3a
Related Discussions
Planting in Small Planters Zone 5b
Q
Comments (1)
Not sure that they'll necessarily die in 5B...they survive in the open winter in my climate unprotected, but I've got them in the ground. I'd think styrofoam would help and I'd make sure they don't dry out in the winter...dessication would be a more likely cause of death than cold. Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Musings
...See More
Please help identify this plant in zone 5b Michigan
Q
Comments (4)
Uh oh. I'm thinking a spreading bamboo or, even worse, Japanese Knotweed.
...See More
What plant is this? (MA, Zone 5b)
Q
Comments (4)
Can you open a bud and see what color the flowers are? Do you remember if it had a deep tap root (sort of like a white carrot) along with more fibrous roots? I think you might have Campanula rapunculoides (creeping bellflower) which is invasive and really difficult to remove. If the ID is confirmed by someone with direct experience with this plant, it is best to move them to the nearest trash can.
...See More
Has anyone in zone 5b planted anything yet?
Q
Comments (16)
moving plants in your own garden is approved.. as they are totally tempered to your gardens weather ... after all.. they have been there all winter ... subject to the above mentioned walking in your sodden soil.. and turning it into concrete thru compaction ... as to plants from your local sale.. where did they come from .. and are they hardened off ... if they came from a local greenhouse.. which has already been hardening them off to local weather... they are probably ready to plant ... but it wouldnt hurt to just give them a protected week or 3.. to settle down ... full bright shade ... protected from wild cold temp swings ... its easier to protect a small collection of pots all sitting together.. rather than all over the yard .... but.. if they were trucked in from God knows where ... but presumably a warmer clime .... then its your job to harden them off ... it always helps.. if you include your location in your fact scenario .... ken ps: random warm DAYS .. arent as important in the equation... as random really COLD nights ... so dont focus on day temps.. look for the potential of night temps .... its rare that there is a mid day frost or freeze this time of year ...
...See More
lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan
Original Author
2 years ago
@mazerolm_3a , thank you, I just watched that video, but could it really be that easy??!! That’s my kind of perennial planting! :)

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) , thanks! I did see instructions similar to those on another website, but then another site I visited mentioned they need light to germinate, hence my confusion. If I do start them indoors, should I use biodegradable pots so as not to disturb their roots when I transplant?
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 years ago
Be aware that seeds of this poppy, being a named cultivar rather than a species, are not guaranteed to come true. You will probably get a mixture of shades. To be sure of getting exactly what you want, buy a plant in bloom or get vegetatively propagated plants from a known source.
lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan
Original Author
2 years ago
@floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK , I did not know that, thanks for the additional information!! I will definitely keep that in mind…I hope they’d at least all be some shade of pink?
callirhoe123
2 years ago
It's very strange that some sites say light is required for germination and others insist on darkness. Which is it?
lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan thanked callirhoe123
peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
2 years ago
I have always surface sown Papaver orientale with success, so I would say they need light to germinate. Biodegradable pots or cell packs are a good idea but I have also sown in an open tray. Just be gentle when transplanting.
lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan thanked peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada

Related Stories

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 5 Steps to Selecting the Right Plants for a Rain Garden

By Falon Mihalic

A simplified look at selecting plants for a rain garden

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 5 Structural Plants to Frame Your Garden Beautifully

By CYAN Horticulture

Consider these trees and shrubs live building blocks, providing structure and definition in even a small garden

NATIVE PLANTS 5 Ways to Keep Your Native Plant Garden Looking Good All Year

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

It’s all about planning ahead, using sustainable practices and accepting plants as living organisms

PLANTING IDEAS 5 Summer-Blooming Bulbs to Plant This Spring

By Marianne Lipanovich

These fast-growing bulbs will brighten your garden this summer

PLANTING IDEAS Great Garden Combo: 5 High-Intensity Plants for High-Intensity Sun

Blend bold foliage and flowers to create a powerful combination that will hold its own even in the harsh light of midsummer

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Easy Plants for a Romantic Entry Garden

Abundant flowers, a heady fragrance and striking foliage combine for a romantic front-yard garden that's deceptively low maintenance

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 5 Berry-licious Shrubs to Plant Now for Winter Interest

Showy color during snow season? You bet. These shrubs will wake up a garden with colorful berries when other plants are asleep

LIME FOLIAGE 5 Gold Plants to Illuminate Shady Garden Spots

Dark garden corners don't have to mean deep, monochromatic color. Gold plants brighten the landscape with shots of luminosity

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Great Plants for Borders and Screens

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Get the effects of a shrub but in less time — and drawing more winged pollinators — with these herbaceous perennials

GARDENING GUIDES No-Regret Plants: 5 Questions Smart Shoppers Ask

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Quit wasting money and time at the garden center. This checklist will ensure that the plants you're eyeing will stick around in your yard

Sponsored

More Discussions

Do you plant very young, small plants directly in garden?

13

Jeffersonia dubia, a spring charmer if there ever was one!

19

Are bricks a thing in the US

37

Hot Lip Salvia reverted to sold reds and whites

9

Your MAY 2024 highlights

10