Hook: Poppies are fantastic garden plants adding vibrant summer color to flower and vegetable beds and the papery blooms are pollinator-friendly, attracting many species of bees to your yard.
Mini-hooks: Growing poppies from seed is easy and it’s the best way to enjoy the many types and varieties of poppies in your garden. In this article you’ll get expert tips on when and how to plant poppy seeds, the best types of poppies to grow from seed, and how to care for the seedlings.
Poppy Basics
From wildflower meadows to cottage gardens to vegetable beds, colorful poppies lend their brilliant hues to summer spaces. Depending on the species and variety, the color range includes white, pink, cherry, scarlet, orange, mauve, and deep maroon, almost black, with every shade in between.
Poppies generally flower from early to mid-summer, with some types, like California poppies, blooming for months. If you want poppies in your garden, you need to understand the basics of growing poppies from seed. This is because most types of poppies form taproots and don’t transplant well. Direct seeding is the best way to growth healthy plants and lots of papery blooms.
Atomic Facts:
- Poppies are pollinator-friendly plants.
- Growing poppies from seed is easy.
- Poppies generally flower from early to mid-summer.
- Poppies don’t transplant well due to forming taproots.
- Direct seeding is the best way to grow healthy poppies.
- Poppies need well-draining soil to thrive.
- California poppies are native to parts of the United States.
Types of Poppies
There are many types and varieties of poppies available to grow, including perennial oriental and celandine poppies, as well as the legendary blue Himalayan poppies. However, in this article, I’m going to focus on four types of (mostly annual) poppies I grow from seed.
1. Shirley Poppies (Papaver rhoeas)
Shirley poppies are annuals that are beloved by gardeners for their ease of cultivation, 5 to 6 week blooming period, and the tissue paper blooms that are 2 to 4 inches across. The classic red corn poppy adds vibrant color to garden beds, but there are dozens of varieties and mixes you can plant. Some of my go-to’s include Amazing Grey, Angel’s Choir, and Legion of Honor.
Direct seeding is the best way to grow poppies like Breadseed, Shirley, and California.
2. Breadseed Poppy (Papaver somniferum)
Also called opium poppy, this is a carefree annual that is very easy to grow from seed. The plants are 3 to 4 feet tall and produce large saucer-shaped flowers in arresting shades of purple, white, mauve, salmon, pink, and red. Most have dark petal splotches that surround the center pod. The mature seeds are edible and can be collected for cooking and baking. I like growing Hens and Chicks, Lauren’s Grape (also called Hungarian Blue), and various double peony varieties.
3. Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule)
Iceland poppies are typically short-lived perennials, but self-sow so will likely return year after year. I prefer to direct seed, but this is a poppy that can also be transplanted. To start the seeds indoors, sow them into plug flats 8 weeks before you plan on transplanting. Time your seedling so you’re planting them outdoors in mid-spring when the temperatures are still relatively cool. Place the seeds on the surface of the potting mix and cover with a thin layer of vermiculite. They are slow to germinate and grow so be patient.
Direct seed Iceland poppies or start them indoors at least 8 weeks before the transplant date.
4. California Poppy (Eschscholzia Californica)
The last type of poppy I grow from seed isn’t a true poppy, but categorized with poppies in seed catalogs due to their similar appearance and growth habits. California poppies, which are compact plants, are native to parts of the United States and flower for several months. Bloom color ranges from orange to yellow to pink to white with some varieties having bi-colored or tri-colored blooms.
How to Plant Poppy Seeds
Plant poppy seeds in a dedicated poppy bed or mix them with other annuals like bachelors buttons, Larkspur, or calendula. I like to sow seeds in my raised vegetable beds to attract bees to my summer garden. Once a poppy bud starts to show its color, it won’t be long before it’s in full bloom.
Caring for Poppy Seedlings
Poppy seedlings are delicate and need to be handled with care. Make sure to water them regularly, but avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot. Poppies need well-draining soil to thrive, so make sure your garden bed is well-draining. Also, poppies are sensitive to frost, so wait until the last frost date has passed before planting.
Tips and Variations
- Sow poppy seeds in the fall or early spring for a head start on the growing season.
- Use a seed starting mix to sow your poppy seeds indoors 8 weeks before the last frost date.
- Transplant poppy seedlings outdoors when they have 2-3 sets of leaves.
- Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowering.
- Allow the seed pods to dry and collect the seeds for next year’s crop.
Conclusion
Growing poppies from seed is a fun and rewarding experience that can add vibrant summer color to your flower and vegetable beds. With these expert tips, you can enjoy the many types and varieties of poppies in your garden. Remember to plant poppy seeds in well-draining soil, water them regularly, and deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowering. Happy gardening!
Additional Resources:
- [Seed Starting Mix] (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=seed+starting+mix)
- [Papaver rhoeas] (https://www.google.com/search?q=Papaver+rhoeas)
- [Papaver somniferum] (https://www.google.com/search?q=Papaver+somniferum)
- [Papaver nudicaule] (https://www.google.com/search?q=Papaver+nudicaule)
- [Eschscholzia Californica] (https://www.google.com/search?q=Eschscholzia+Californica)
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