how to sow poppy seeds.

[Tindomul]

Does anyone know how to sow poppy seeds properly? I have some that I got from a friend but I want to know if I sow them now will they bloom before first frost?

[lepanthes89]

They need dark to germinate.Sow them in the fall,outside (assuming they are a hardy sp.),and they'll grow and bloom in late spring.
Thats how I grow my fancy P.somniferum vars.

[Tindomul]

ok, great! That is exactly what I will do. I was hoping to get a flower crop this year but I am sure next year will he a nice show. I was actually hoping to start them off indoors and then grow them in my building's front yard. They are more likely to say yes of they see well started seedlings than lowly tiny seeds.

[Ray]

My grandmother (Ukranian immigrant and Saskatchewan homesteader) used to grow poppies for seed for baking purposes.

She got really angry when the RCMP came and dug them all up.

Who knew they were opium poppies? They were very pretty, though.

[Swamper]

Originally Posted by Ray

My grandmother (Ukranian immigrant and Saskatchewan homesteader) used to grow poppies for seed for baking purposes.

She got really angry when the RCMP came and dug them all up.

Who knew they were opium poppies? They were very pretty, though.

Great story.

[UKCat]

Poppy's don't transplant well unless they are perrenials, so it is better to sow them direct to the soil, fresh turned earth is best in spring or you can do 2 sowings one in the fall and one in the spring, that way if one fails you have 2 chances or a double crop

[Tindomul]

Thanks UKCat. I think I will do that since I have lots of seeds. Now I just have to convince my building to let me do it. They have this notion that a proper garden can only be filled with neat rows of pansies.