Papaver somniferum
 

Aside from Orchids, the only plants I'm interested in are the ones that can "sit and talk to you for hours" as it was sung in Disney's Alice in Wonderland.

Therefore, I ordered some Turkish Purple Afghan Papaver somniferum seeds. Does anyone have experience growing these? I hear they make some kick-ass tea. :evil:

Make sure to sow them in dug over soil. Easy to grow equally in a cornfield or border of roses. But I don't blab how to harvest the sap.

I remember an elderly neighbor growing Papaver somniferum when I was a kid, 'just for the seeds'. If he made other use of them I never saw it. I do remember he just scattered the seeds in a gravelly patch at the back of his yard, in full sun, after roughing up the soil surface. And they grew like weeds.

How about in pots and wooden troughs for plants? I live in the city so I don't have any acreage or anything, I just wanted to start some in peat pots with my orchids then hopefully transplant them to the roof, where there are lots of planters with no plants in them since they all died last year because no one took care of them.

---------- Post added at 04:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:52 AM ----------

I got the seeds:

http://imageshack.com/a/img842/8163/5z64.jpg

(sorry for the size, I need to install Photoshop on this laptop)

Very easy to grow! I planted some several years ago and they reseed every year. No reason you couldn't grow them in a pot, as long as you leave the pot outside year round. Always sow the seeds where you want them, because they don't transplant well. Starting in peat pots might work, as long as you don't disturb the roots while transplanting.

Thanks! Do they seem to need to form a really deep root system, or do you think a 5" deep seedling tray would be deep enough. The soil will be very rich and they'll get all the water and fertilizer they need.

---------- Post added at 05:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:01 AM ----------

Oh, and also do you need to make sure they are pollinated in order for them to...ummm...create the alkaloids?

As an annual I doubt they develop a massive root system. I grow most of mine in a large container about 2' across and 1'deep. As far as pollination, practically every bloom forms a capsule for me, but I keep them at ground level so all the normal pollinators have free access. They might even be wind pollinated for all I know. As far as harvesting, I do a little each year. If you do so, you will rapidly gain a deeper understanding of the term "productive labor"! By negative example.

As long as I can have at least one less fight with my b*t*h doctor about a Robitussin AC prescription when I have a bad cough, it will be worth it!

you are also referring to cold stratification - where seeds need cold treatment to germinate. That may be something to bear in mind with bought seeds. All poppies that return in my yard, perennial and annual, need that cold.