I started planting poppy seeds today, and it occurred to me that I have an over abundance of mixed annual poppy seed, if anyone would like some. The mixes are mostly the peony variety, but some are singles. They're annuals, but they may self seed for you. If anybody would like some, send me your address in an email.
This message was edited Sunday, Mar 24th 10:00 AM
Those are pretty, Weezin'.
How are they as cut flowers
(in arrangements)?
You have mail.
Gotcha djm906!
You have more mail.
Gotcha, Mystic!
Can you tell me a good way to sow poppy seed? I live in NorthEast MS. I seem to remember that they need to be sown very early. All help will be appreciated!!Thanks Mona
Hi, mlwgardener: My climate is very different than yours, so our methods may be quite different. PoppySue might have better info for you. Why not send her an email?
Weez, I have lots of seed of the P. Somniferum..thankyou! what I wanted to mention is I was reading somewhere online that this poppy is sometimes called the Breadseed Poppy! Elaine
Hi, 1601. Yes, somniferum are often called breadseed poppies, because people use there seed as a garny on bread when they bake it. There are certain varieties that are grown specifically for culinary purposes. The grayer looking seed is said to have the best flavor.
The double varieties are usually called peony poppies, but they are still somniferum, or opium poppies. With recent concerns over the use of these poppies as a narcotic, you are unlikely to see them listed as opium poppies, and even the name somniferum is used discretely.
Weez, our climates are pretty same. When should I sow the somniferum poppy seeds I got from you last year so that they'd bloom next summer? Do I have to start them indoors or sow directly outside?
Evert, I start them indoors about 11 weeks before last frost. They are considered difficult to transplant, but I have good success with them. When you plant the seed, put enough sterilized starter mix in the container so that they have ample room for their tap root. When I transplant them over to cell-packs, I allow the starter mix to dry a bit first so that the seedlings lift easily without disturbing the root system. I never touch the stems with my hands, of course.
So I could sow them soon...
Thanks for the info. Do I sow them on the top of the soil or cover them?
Evert: Surface sow, mixing the seeds with a bit of sterile sand to get even distribution. Don't sow to thickly or transplanting is difficult and seedlings are leggy. You can press seeds into the soil, but with the sand, it shouldn't be necessary. I use domed flats for seed starting, but a covering of plastic wrap should keep the seeds moist. They should germinate between 7-14 days.
Weez, may I have a few of the popy seeds? I'd like to try some of them. Do they need full sun or will half a day of sun do? I'll send a sase for you. Thanks
Padre, I'll send you some. You don't have to send an SASE.
Thanks Weez
Hi Weez,
When I saw that you were starting your poppies I almost fainted. We still have at least 8 more weeks of winter and can have heavy frosts until june 15th. I know you live in Alaska and I figured your weather was similiar to ours. I thought you were living in a green belt and wished I was there. We have have extremely cold weather for the last 6 weeks with it being -40 more than once. I have never tried to start annual poppies indoors, maybe this year will be different.
trailingon
Hi, Trailingon. I haven't started my poppies yet... it will be awhile before I do. As a general rule, we figure that our last frost will be June 1, so I go back about 10 or 11 weeks before that to start my poppies. The season is so short here that starting them indoors gives them plenty of time to bloom.
This is the warmest winter I can recall ever having here since I first arrived almost 30 years ago. Almost all the snow is gone already... not that we had much in the first place. If we don't get more snow, our spring breakup will be extremely early and extremely quick!
Hi Weez. Have you ever tried autumn sowing your poppies. I did mine last October and now they are all 3 inches. Your winter doesnt really sound any different to ours. They are in a cold greenhouse with the door left permanently open, otherwise it gets too damp and they have done really well.This week I noticed that their growth has speeded up too. I will be doing my spring sowing in a about 3 weeks time.
I would love to try some too. Thanks for the nice offer
No, Baa, I haven't tried autumn sowing them. Our soil is so cool here that many seeds don't germinate until well into the summer. But, I have so much seed that it wouldn't hurt to try!
I dont sow them direct in the soil Weezin, the slugs would eat them all. I start them off in trays, then prick them into modules before planting out. Alot more work but if you grow them on a bit they dont get damaged by the slugs
Psilo, so you are basically doing what I'm doing, only leaving the out all winter?
Hi WZ!! I was able to get $15 together.I am so happy!! Thanks so much for the encouragement.Hope to be keeping in touch...Hugs, Laralyn
