Poppy, mixed colours
Fringed doubles, peony types and singles in scarlet, magenta, plum, pink and near black. You won't know which colour you have until it opens.
Growing
- annual
- Full sun
- Fall, or early spring
- Not covered
- 14 to 21 days at 18°C (65°F)
- Sprinkle thinly
- 91 to 122 cm (36 to 48 in)
- 46 cm (18 in)
- Benefits from support
- 80 to 90 days
Seed from a bed of seven poppies grown together: Black Swan, Pink Swan, Hungarian Blue, Purple Peony, Black Peony, Pink Peony and a bright red. Poppies cross, so expect a mix of fringed doubles, peony types and singles in scarlet, magenta, plum, purple, soft pink and near black. They all make the same big grey-green pods. Poppy seed is tiny, so a packet is one level 1/16 teaspoon pinch spoon.
Sowing and starting
Sow where you want it to grow. Poppies don't like being moved, so skip the seed trays. Loosen the top of the soil, scatter the seed and don't cover it. I sprinkle mine on top and let the rain settle it in. Water gently if there's no rain. I sow in both fall and early spring, and both work. It comes up in 14 to 21 days at around 18°C (65°F). Some sources say it needs a cold spell first, but growers who have tested it say dry stored seed comes up fine without one.
The seed is almost dust. Mix a pinch with dry sand before you scatter it, so it spreads evenly and you can see where it lands. Keep the surface damp until the seedlings show, then thin to about 30 cm (12 in) apart. Crowded poppies make short stems and small flowers.
Care
Full sun and ordinary soil. Don't overwater once it's growing. It grows 91 to 122 cm (36 to 48 in) tall and flowers 80 to 90 days from sowing. The double flowers hold rain, so a sheltered spot helps. Watch the seedlings for slugs.
Saving the seed
Let the pods dry on the plant until they rattle and the little windows under the top open. Then tip the seed into a bowl. A mix stays a mix and shifts a little each year. If you love one colour, grow it away from the others next year and save seed from it alone.
Worth knowing
- Poppies self sow with real enthusiasm. Leave a couple of pods to shatter and you will have poppies in that bed for years, which is either a gift or a nuisance depending on how tidy you like things.