These re-seed themselves every year and I have lots of them for many years. This year many of them are turning yellow, but some are green and healthy looking.
Any idea why these are turning Yellow? Do they need to be picked out due to too much in-growth?
Thanks!
They are not too demanding of fertilizer (mine grow in a gravel driveway) but if they have been growing in the same place for many years they may have depleted the soil. Try thinning them so they are not competing so much with each other (about 6" apart) and adding a slow release fertilizer.
They don't like too much wet, not sure what your weather has been like. They are usually happy in poor soil or gravel. I would just wait a while, you have a lovely show of them and they have obviously been very happy.
Nature is trying to do it's job by thinning out the weaker plants, that's the yellow ones, these seedlings are way over crowded and are fighting for water, root room / spread, and whatever nutrients they try survive on, Diana is right when she informs you these poppies need little in the way of nutrients but, when any plant finds a place they like, they will remove any nutrients that suit the plants, especially when they grow year after year in the same spot.
I would thin out the seedlings, then for this season give a liquid feed, (half the given dose on the bottle) they don't like a rich soil.
For next year, prepare an area close to the growing poppies you have already, add a slow release feed like blood /fish / bone-meal, ( you buy this already mixed to the right mixture) so read the dosage recommended and never overfeed ANY plants or you can burn the roots or cause way to much growth too early and this will cause weakness and too much soft growth.
The area you prep for the new seedlings to germinate or prick them out and plant in the new area, need to have plenty drainage OR soil that drains very fast after it rains or you water but, it sounds like the area your poppies are growing in is fast draining or these little seedlings would NOT survive in wet soil.
Hope this helps you understand what your lovely plants need to be healthy, and it helps you to make sure you can offer them the best chance of survival.
Hope all goes well for you.
Best Regards,
WeeNel.
