Poppy, Pink Peony
Full, soft pink double flowers on grey-green stems. The seed pods that follow are pretty too.
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
Layers of pale pink petals, a little deeper in the centre, on tall grey stems. It looks lovely next to dark flowers, and the pods that follow are pretty too. All seven of my poppies grew in one bed, and poppies cross, so this seed came off a Pink Peony plant rather than an isolated patch. Most will look like the parent and a few will take after the others. 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. A crowded plant makes a stem too thin to hold a heavy double flower.
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. Expect the odd single or darker flower. Pull anything you don't want before it sets seed.
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.