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Re: Poppies

lowery@teamzeon.com wrote:

> I read with interest a little while ago on this list about poppies and
>
> their culture.  Someone had mentioned that a friend had bought poppy
> seeds
> from the grocery and grew some that way.  I now have a jar.  I live in
> zone
> 5.  Should I sow these seeds now or wait until spring?  If spring,
> then
> when?  What is the best method of propagation:  sow in a seed flat or
> 6scatter them about the garden bed?
> 2
> I also read where you cannot legally grow opium poppies, yet I see
> them
> often in gardening magazines in featured gardens and I see where T&M
> offers
> them.  I would love to get these seeds as I think those poppies are
> gorgeous.  Has anyone had a negative experience growing these?  I
> wouldn't
> want to have these in my rose bed and the cops raid me one night!
>
> One last question (please bear with me!):  I would like to try and
> grow
> oriental poppies (the true perennial type) from seed, yet I've read
> where
> they will not come true from seed and will have misshapen blooms.  Is
> this
> true in anyone's experience?  I don't want to pay a lot of money per
> plant,
> yet I don't see these offered in catalogs inexpensively nor do I see
> seed
> packets of individual types -- only a mixture.  What's up with these?
> What's the best method of propagation?
>
> Mucho gracias to all advisors!!

Propagation of Oriental Poppies is not difficult.  The best method is
root cuttings, taken in January.  In Zone 5 this is pretty tough, but I
would take them befoare the ground freezes hard for the winer.  Take
pencil thick roots, cut into 3" pieces, roll them in a fungicide like
Captan or Benomyl, lay them flat in a sterile flat, filled with
premoistened sterile soil. A Professional potting mix is best. Potting
soil just does not cut it.  Keep the cuttings just damp and warm until
you see signs of growth.  At this time, put them under tfluorescent
light tubes, close to the bulb.  As they grow, raise the lights, and
start feeding - half strength is best at first , go a small amount
higher with the Phosphorous.  Continue until the plants have gone
through acclimation to the outdoors, have good root systems, and pot
them on outside.

I've never tried to grow poppies from store bought seed (food type).
However, if you just throw them where you want them anytime from when
they ripen to early (still Quite Cool) Spring, they should grow.
However, as a genus, Papaver likes to germinate in darkness, so cover
lightly with some soil.  Also, they are hard to transplant - so in situ
is the way.

They are a wonderful addition to any garden, and can always be removed
if they grow where you don't need them.
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