Re: Annual poppies & fertilizer?

CC:

I've grown and seen the poppy species you mention in
ALL kinds of soils, including the absolute worst.

As far as I can determine, they all do just fine with
NO fertilizer whatsoever.  In fact, an application of
any fertilizer probably would be a waste at the least
and could lead to lush vegetation and no flowers at
the worse (although your "burning" seems to be worse
than that).

What I've seen as the key to good growth is a little
extra water during the appropriate growing season
(fall-sown and into our cool winters into spring
season).  They generally do fine with our average
rainfall and if it goes into a dry spell, a little
supplemental will help.

Seeds sown outside the appropriate season, by the way,
also produce very poor growing plants (stunted by the
heat).

Also, I've never transplanted any of these species. 
I've always read that direct sowing is the only way to
get successful, vigorous plants.  Has anybody done any
side-by-side tests?

Joe Seals
SM CA

--- Ccopuntia@aol.com wrote:
> A very happy New Year greeting to all fellow Medits!
> 
> I've got a question about fertilizing poppies and
> would like to know what 
> other gardeners are using with success in our
> climate.  This is in regards to 
> annual varieties like Papaver somniferum, P. rhoeas,
> and P. commutatum.  I'm 
> especially interested in the somniferums because
> they seem to me to be 
> especially sensitive to traditional fertilizers
> (ugly brown "stains" on the 
> margins of the leaves) and don't seem all that
> responsive to seaweed/kelp 
> liquid feeds either.  So what have you found that
> worked for you?  I'd like 
> to hear about beds you direct seed into, and also
> for young plants that you 
> transplant into an area.
> 
> Thanks much!  C. Carter, Martinez, CA
> 


=====
Joe Seals
Santa Maria, Calilfornia --
where the weather is always perfect
and my garden always has something blooming

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