So, I Threw Out my Poppy Seeds

A couple of weeks ago, I put out some of the seeds Sheila gave me. When I was out exploring the beds today, I noticed they were sprouting! I was a bit shocked as I wasn't expecting anything until late winter/early spring. Will they survive the winter??

Mine are just now sprouting too, I wish they had sprouted a bit earlier to gain their first true leaves. It's been so dry they're late germinating. And now we are expected to have a hard freeze tomorrow. I'm going to throw a sheet over mine just this time to give them a bit more of a chance for a true pair of leaves. After that I know they'll be fine on their own for the winter.

My climate here is probably about near to yours. I broadcasted my poppies seeds too a little earlier, they appeared to have sprouted their little heads up, I too will keep you posted on how mine turn out with the up coming winter. Do these look like them seedlings? This is my first year sowing poppies.

That's what mine look like, only they don't have their first set of true leaves. What's really funny is that I put them out on top of about 4" of new mulch! I did water them in, but I still didn't expect them to sprout so soon. This is also my first year with poppies.

Thanks Stephanietx, yooohooo! I've poppies seedlings. lol. I've tried them in years past, either sowing them too late, covered them inadvertently or whatever, so far this is my first year with some real germination!
Hmmm, on top of mulch? What kind? It's interesting to know they germinate on top of mulch layer. My local gardener friend told me that the poorer the soil, open soil is best for these poppies. His single pink, double pink are sewn every fall, and they grow up to be 4 feet tall plus. It's this friend's seeds that he has generously share. I'm pleased.

I have plenty more poppy seeds if you want to put more out later. I know that some years they are up and pretty good size long before the spring bulbs are. They are up and in full bloom by first week in April.

Sheila, I still have over half of the little medicine bottle FULL!! LOL I've even shared them with a few people and still have lots left!

How exciting! I love poppies but didn't think they would grow this far south. How cool. I'll have try some.

Sarah

I can send you some!! :)

That would be awesome. Or, maybe you would give me a tour of your garden so I can get some other ideas?

Thanks!

If you come this way, you will need to come visit me too!!

Lily, I thought open soil would be best too. I pulled my mulch back in places and threw out handfuls of seed. The funny thing, like Steph, mine have only germinated where they landed in the mulch.lol

Sheila, I'd love to come visit you. Especially since I'm having to travel so far, I may as well catch you both on the same trip. LOL.

Sarah

I don't know how humid is in your garden Cocoa, what I suspected is. The seeds germinate on them because their moisture retentive property - I meant the mulch hold moisture longer than the soil would. So when sowing seeds, we need to remember to irrigate the area frequent until they sprout.

We've been very dry. That's why mine are so behind this year. We just had a good soaking and I think your right those in the mulch had higher moisture/humidity and a good jump start on those on the soil. They're also not as noticeable to the birds ;0)

Stephanie, Sheila, Cocoa, lowellsf; here is a thread about Poppies in our zones that maybe of interest to you. There is a link provided there regarding various seeds that maybe of interest to some. Enjoy.
Kim
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/789978/

Last year I received a package of poppy seed from Burt's Bees. Just pitched them out in the
Fall and forgot about them. They came up in the Spring and every single seed must have sprouted. Saved seed from the same plants and plan to pitch them out tomorrow.

Let's keep touch everyone, please post your pix here on the coming season. :-)

Hi Christi, do you know what variety poppies? Mine is an annual, I've a couple perennials 'Shirley' and it has persisted the last couple of years.
Kim

Sorry, Kim, there was no ID on the package. Maybe someone can tell us what they are.

Christi, what a lovely peachy color!!! I had half a zip lock bag saved from my lavender poppies and sowed all those and then went crazy looking for more colors. Next year should be full of surprises, I didn't keep notes:0) I stuck mostly with the bread seeds poppies, I want to be able to save enough for muffins and scones in the future too.

Because of my penchant for planting by the "feeding the chickens" style, every Spring is a marvelous surprise. Also pitched Giant Larkspur seed last fall and when spring came.....it was a wonderland of pink and purple. I saved seed but mostly let it fall right where it was. Mother Nature is very efficient.

Purple poppy? Wow! Have not seen them. Do you have a picture, Lynea?

Lou, what a beautiful picture. The colors are glorious!

Sarah

$1.79 for a package of seed and now I have them forever. I prefer seed because of he joy of watching them plant grow. If you throw these out now, you will them coming up in April.
This picture was May 1st. (appropriate for MayDay). The blooms last for over a month.

I sure don't Christi, had a computer melt down and lost most photos. I'm now using a rebuilt system thats such a pain to use. I won't be posting many photos until this computer dies.lol These look like mine from last year. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/11397/

I'm so glad you posted the larkspure...I forgot I had packs of them in the bottom of my purse. I need to get those thrown out asap :0)

Like Cocoa Lulu, I'm drawn to those lovely pink and purple Larkspur, lol. It's my turn to go through some of my seed packages. lol.

This may not be the place for this question, but speaking of old seeds, how long are seeds viable? Is there some place that has any guidelines for this?

Thanks.

Sarah

Poppin in from lurkin ^_^ This chart has some things. Note: I don't agree about the herb seeds. http://www.hillgardens.com/seed_longevity.htm Poppin back out.

Dahlianut from Calgary, you're so wonderful! Thanks for the helpful chart.

Thank you very much for the chart. Have been in the garden since noon today trying to get ready for our first really cold spell. Noticed the poppy seed from the plants I had this last spring are growing....and oddly recvd seed for the red poppy that was representative of Flanders Field came today from National Gardening. Too windy to put the seed out today. Don't want to seed the rest of the neighborhood. chuckle

Christi

Christi,
Coincidentally, you and I both were doing the same thing today, getting the rest of the tender plants in. lol.

Christi~That would be pretty if you did!! LOL I've seen the fields of poppies in bloom at Wildseed Farms in F'burg and they are absolutely stunning!

When do poppies bloom up here anyway?

Love those red poppies.
"In Flander's field the poppies grow
between the crosses row on row
that mark our place"
Anyone know where to find the whole poem?
I have seen some growing in fields around here, very pretty.

Steph, I think they start up around April, can't remember exactly.

Here you go, Anna. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm

Thanks for the complete poem and the story to go with it, Lynea. Another "learn something new everyday".

Christi

Thanks for the poem. I never knew the history behind it. ..and will now remember the poppies blow (and grow)
In Canada, the veterans offer felt-like poppies in November (for donation) for people to wear up to Veterans day.

Thanks for the poem link. The VFW members here have the poppies and flags (donations are accepted). We keep a cluster of their poppies on the mirror of our vehicle and have had many a veteran comment, saying how good that makes them feel.

So, to parrot StephanieTXs' question??? 8 ) ...

Mine bloomed in April/May.

In 2006, these were blooming on March 30th.

Ooooh, I love that sight! Thanks Sheila.

Those are beautiful, Sheila. I have to have some of those too.

Christi