Question about Poppies

I planted poppies and perennials (by seed) in late August. I noticed today that all the poppies have germinated and are tiny little plants. Is that okay or did I plant too early?

Granny, I really hope you don't mind my adding another question to yours?? please forgive me, just taking a great opportunity.
I want to do a full bed of them. How can I tell which of the poppies I've gotten in trade are perennial and if I plant them in a bed with other perennials will that be a problem if they are annuals??

Now we need PoppySue coming in to share her expertise ....
Any help from anyone would be appreciated !

GL... to be honest I don't know if they'll survive the winter in your zone. They're pretty tough but if they're just tiny seedlings the might not make it. I don't think they'd survive in my zone 5. You'd be wise to plant again - either after frost when the night time temps stay cold (40's or lower), or in the early spring. If you need some more seeds let me know and I'll send you some.

tiG - Oriental poppies are perennial & Icelandic poppies are short-lived perennials - they usually peter out after 2 years. The annual poppies re-seed all around my perennial beds. I just pull them out where I don't want them. I thin them to clusters of 4 or 5 plants ... and about 12 inches apart per cluster. If they're too crowded the blooms are smaller. The more space you give them the nicer the plants are. Once they finish blooming you can yank the plants right out - just leave a few to self sow and collect seeds from.

Oops ~ I did the same. Glad to know & glad I planted sparingly! Thanks, PoppySue :)

I need question about Poppies also.. I live here in Zone 8 and when is best time to plant the seeds... Poppysue, I need your help!

Poppies will start to germinate when night time temps start getting into the 50's or higher. If you plant them in the fall - do it when the temps are cooler than 50 so they'll germinate in the spring when it warms up. In zone 8 or 9 I'd plant them in the winter.

Everyone must be thinking about the same thing.I have another question tho...are there any that like the shade?

jennifer - Welsh poppies will grow in shade http://freespace.virgin.net/john.richmond/meconops.htm

They would be pretty w/ all the green...any idea where I would get these?
Jen

Jen post a request on the trading forum. Ya never know... someone might have some.

Duh.....

jen, I have a package of meconopsis superba I got in a trade. there are only about 30 or so seeds, want them?

Poppysue, how will they do in a 50/50 sun to shade....filtered light?

"eyes"

Eyes I haven't grown them but it says they'll take sun or shade. Welsh poppies are supposed to be the easiest of the meconopsis species to grow.