Poppy Falling in Love - Renee's Garden

ANNUAL

Spring/summer bloom

Frost hardy

BEST TO START DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN

Sow seeds directly into a finely textured garden bed in full sun as early in spring as the ground can be worked. To help space these small seeds, it’s helpful to mix them with dry sand before sowing. Cover very lightly with fine soil and keep the seed bed moist as seedlings emerge over 10 to 21 days.

THIN OR TRANSPLANT

Poppies do not transplant well, so we advise sowing the seeds directly in the garden. For good garden performance, be sure to thin crowded seedlings early; final plant spacing should be 4 to 6 inches apart, so plants have room to grow, mature and bloom.

GROWING NOTES

Plant as early as possible in spring, as poppies can handle frost and bloom best and longest when plants get a good start in cool weather. In mild winter climates, you can also sow seeds in late fall to form strong root systems and overwinter for the earliest spring bloom. Weed and water young seedlings carefully. Mature plants can handle dry conditions but appreciate regular water in hot summer locations. Poppies make good cut flowers if cut just as buds begin to open. Allow spent flowers to form pods and drop seeds if you want flowers to self-sow for next season’s bloom.