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Three ways to grow annual poppies

January 24, 2023

poppy

Gardeners are always looking for the best way to stack the deck in their favor and have the best success growing a plant. But sometimes, there are many ways  grow a plant well. Rather than cause confusion, this should ease gardeners’ minds, because the more ways there are to grow something, the more difficult it is to screw it up.

The more I learn about poppies, specifically annual breadseed poppies (Papaver somniferum), the more ways I learn to grow them. 

Papaver somniferum

Breadseed poppies get more beautiful the closer you get.

TOSS ‘EM IN THE GARDEN

The simplest method is one I’ve been employing for many years: Direct sowing directly in the garden in winter. I simply sprinkle the seeds into garden beds (which are not heavily mulched, if they were I’d pull some of the mulch back to ensure the seeds could reach the soil).  Doing this in winter, often directly on top of the snow (I sow between January and March, sowing repeatedly because if you grow poppies you’ve got plenty of seeds), ensuring good moisture, which is a non-negotiable necessity for poppy seeds, also takes care of what I thought was a required cold stratification period. 

But it turns out the cold period might not be necessary at all. Many books and most seed packets say that P. somniferum needs at least two but probably four weeks of cold in order to germinate, but Matt Mattus says there’s no reason to think that’s the case. Mattus, the author of “Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening” is a thorough researcher, always seeking out the best information on growing anything, and he says he can’t find any reference to P. somniferum needing a cold period. In fact, his own trials (backed by some heavy duty horticulture texts) show that they germinate in four days at 70 degrees and even faster at 80 degrees, without any cold period.

So that brings me to the next method.

red and pink poppies

With saved seed, you don’t know exactly what you’re going to get. These dark red poppies were real winners, and the bright pink that crashed the party wasn’t a slouch.

MATT’S METHOD

Sow poppy seeds thinly in a tray on a germination mat kept at 70 degrees or higher. Keep them consistently moist and grow them out under lights.

When the seedlings are a quarter inch tall, very gently tease them out and plant them out where they’ll grow for the rest of the season. Matt plants into the 20-inch pots, but you could plant out into the garden at this point.

For more information, check out Matt’s Instagram post outlining the process.

poppies with costa

WINTER SOW IN JUGS

If you’re a fan of winter sowing in milk jugs (or water, juice or any other transparent container that you can seal up), poppies are a good choice with one caveat. Poppies don’t like root disturbance, which is why the Mattus method calls for transplanting seedlings early. The same advice holds for sowing in jugs.

There are many articles on starting seeds using this method, which is inexpensive, easy and doesn’t take up room in your house, but the general process starts with a transparent jug or container, that is cut along the equator (leave a little attached for a hinge effect). Poke holes in the bottom,  fill with several inches of potting mix, then sow seeds thinly at the appropriate depth. Water in the seeds, seal up the jug with tape, remove the cap and set the jug outside in a sunny spot. Other than adding a little moisture if necessary, there’s nothing more to do until seeds germinate in their mini greenhouses.

Lauren's Grape poppy

Lauren’s Grape is an excellent purple variety.

WHICH METHOD IS BEST?

They all are, in their own way. Direct sowing is incredibly easy and takes just minutes to do. There’s nothing to buy or tend, but you will need to thin seedlings when they emerge, usually in a big, weedy-looking clump in the garden. Mattus’s tip is to mix the seeds with sand to help sow them thinly.

If I had some really special poppy seeds that I didn’t want to take chances which, I’d be inclined to follow Mattus’s indoor starting method. This also has the benefit of having more control over where they plants will grow.

Winter sowing in jugs is nearly as simple as direct sowing, but there is the transplant issue. I personally don’t have a lot of success with sowing in jugs, but I am by far the outlier and most people have great luck with it. You do need to keep an eye on the moisture levels inside jugs, which means checking on the when they are stuck in a snowbank.

All of which leads me to one conclusion: there are a lot of ways to grow poppies, so you might as well try at least one and go for it.

Watch my direct sowing method here:

poppies
by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
29 Comments

About Erin @ The Impatient Gardener

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Comments

  1. Julie F Eiden says: January 24, 2023 at 11:09 am

    Poppies! I grew my first poppies from seed last year. Love them. Thanks for the chance of new poppie seeds.

    Julie

    Reply
    • Holly Cordle says: February 12, 2023 at 12:55 pm

      Trying indoor and winter sowing both for my first ever poppies this year. Mostly experimental since I expect our hot humid zone 7b summer will probably wreck them.

      Reply
  2. Timmy Dittrich says: January 24, 2023 at 2:22 pm

    Very interesting but I’m still sure what to do. I think I’m just gunna throw em at the ground, see what sticks and enjoy what ever may “poppy” 😄

    Reply
  3. Ann says: January 24, 2023 at 2:26 pm

    Me! Me! please! Thank you! I had no idea it was so easy!! We had orange in our yard when we moved in and I stupidly moved them. I didn’t know they resented being moved.

    Reply
  4. Nancy V says: January 24, 2023 at 2:28 pm

    I would love to have some of the pink ones but love any color

    Reply
  5. Susan Kilpatrick says: January 24, 2023 at 2:30 pm

    Erin was excited to possibly receive some pink poppy seeds and then heard you say in your video 2021! 😳 Well in case you still have some pink poppies to send out, count me in! 😊 and thanks. Great suggestion to germinate poppy seeds – have not had luck either winter sowing poppies so will try the other two methods.

    Reply
  6. Mary Ann High says: January 24, 2023 at 2:34 pm

    I love poppies and would love to have some seeds from your beauties. Thank you!

    Reply
  7. Kathleen says: January 24, 2023 at 3:07 pm

    I have tried for years to grown poppies and have never had success. I live in South Dakota, zone 4. My gardens are in full sun. I would love to try your poppy seeds. Thanks so much!

    Reply
  8. Vickie Schlick says: January 24, 2023 at 3:09 pm

    Thank you for offering a few of us your extra poppy seeds! I appreciate being considered here in Black Earth (WI) and would give them a good home in my front yard. Vickie

    Reply
  9. Mary Hebein says: January 24, 2023 at 3:52 pm

    I tried to direct sow poppies last year from some very old seeds and wasn’t surprised when I had no success. I’d love to try again!

    Reply
  10. Kim Nieves says: January 24, 2023 at 3:54 pm

    I just love following you! And am very interested in any seeds you might share. Thank you.

    Reply
  11. Sue Fundakowski says: January 24, 2023 at 4:02 pm

    I would love to try growing poppies. It’s something I have never tried. I wouldn’t need very many as most of my yard is shade and part shade, I do have a couple of spots in the sun they would look great in! Thank you for offering to send them out to a few of your followers. Whomever gets them will be very lucky.
    Sue

    Reply
  12. Linda Fiore says: January 24, 2023 at 4:06 pm

    I have tried to direct sew with no luck, but would love to give it another try this year. Milder winter here and no snow so far, but I have my fingers crossed that this is my lucky year. I love poppies!

    Reply
  13. Kristin Martinez says: January 24, 2023 at 4:42 pm

    I would love some of your poppies please! I actually bought some seeds early this winter and did scatter them just like you said. I can’t wait to see if it works and would love to add some of your seeds to my already scattered seeds! Also, our dogs name is Poppy so how cute is that?!

    Reply
  14. Mary Glidden says: January 24, 2023 at 6:21 pm

    I would love to try and grow poppies. I have tried a few times but have never been very successful. Maybe the moisture needs ? Your seeds would certainly be successful as they have been touched by your green thumbs!

    Reply
  15. Judy Buckmaster says: January 24, 2023 at 6:36 pm

    I would LOVE to grow poppies. I live in Washington State and have recently retired…working on my garden.
    Yes, Please!

    Reply
  16. Marilyn Brazill says: January 24, 2023 at 10:05 pm

    I am a new gardener I would never think of growing Poppy Seeds it just seems too difficult with all the cold germination stuff. But you make it sound so easy I am going to try this year. Thanks for all your inspiration!

    Reply
  17. Lorna McAllister says: January 25, 2023 at 4:40 am

    I would love a packet of Poppy Seeds. I tried direct sow last year but didn’t have great success but you have given sone great new tips that I will try again this year! In fact I will get out there this morning and plant them. Love ya

    Reply
  18. Heather says: January 25, 2023 at 7:47 am

    Yes please! Winter sowing poppies has been on my “gardening bucket list” and it would be super special if the poppies came from you!

    Reply
  19. Anna McNally says: January 25, 2023 at 10:18 am

    would love some of your pink poppies. Gorgeous. And I think I can handle that method 😉
    Anna

    Reply
  20. Jane Ewen says: January 25, 2023 at 11:25 am

    I would love to try these at our summer family home north of Toronto. I would keep them chilled until late April when we will go north and “open up the place” . I have some orange ones which pop up here and there. I would love new seeds, to join the lupines which I encourage through the lake side property. We now live in West Chester PA. We love visiting gardens around here, but our townhouse doesn’t allow the luxury of growing plants., so off to the lake I go!

    Reply
  21. Kathy Szeremet says: January 25, 2023 at 11:55 am

    Hi Erin, I too have had luck with just tossing the seeds on the snow. I absolutely love poppies! Kathy Szeremet

    Reply
  22. Jill A. Moore says: January 25, 2023 at 2:32 pm

    Definitely interested in getting a stand of poppies going!

    Reply
  23. Kathy Piere says: January 26, 2023 at 5:41 am

    Would love to try this method and add some of your seeds to my garden. Thank you.

    Reply
  24. Cathi says: January 26, 2023 at 12:47 pm

    Never have grown poppies but love this method. Thanks for sharing if you have enough. Cathi

    Reply
  25. Sheila Truesdell says: January 27, 2023 at 8:45 am

    I’m ready to direct sow my seeds-to scratch the itch to bring on Spring!. If I sprinkle the seeds on the snow will our local birds take them ?

    Reply
  26. Carol Hutchison says: January 28, 2023 at 9:22 pm

    Oh boy! Thanks for showing us how easy it is to sow poppy seeds. I grew some orange poppies last year that were beautiful! I’ve been hoping some babies would emerge this year, but I’m doubtful since my mulch was probably too thick around the plants. I would love some of your poppy seeds for my pink flower garden area. Thanks Erin!

    Reply
  27. Jennifer Cole says: February 5, 2023 at 1:43 pm

    I have grown some poppies but never the kind you are planting! They are gorgeous, and my favorite all time color is pink. My cottage garden filled with pink poppies would be a dream. I would truly loved some of your poppy seeds. Thank you for your channel I love watching you and gaining new info all the time!

    Reply

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The Impatient Gardener

Do you love gardening? Me too! I'm Erin and I garden in Southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5. The Impatient Gardener is all about real-life gardening: the good parts, the bad bits and even the funny stuff. It's part information, part inspiration and a little bit commiseration. Thanks for visiting.

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Erin Schanen 🌿 The Impatient Gardener
Get your dahlia engines running. All the dahlia th Get your dahlia engines running. All the dahlia things are happening very soon. I actually started dividing my dahlias last weekend, about two weeks earlier than I usually do because the weather kept me cooped up inside. I’m glad I did it because I had some (not unexpected) losses that I’ll have to adjust some plans for. So stay tuned: we’ll be talking lots about dahlias soon. 😀
Want to give a gift to your future self? This fall Want to give a gift to your future self? This fall plant snowdrops and winter aconites and I guarantee you that it will bring you happiness the next spring. They are tiny blooms of joy.
A favorite groundcover and a favorite reseeder. Fi A favorite groundcover and a favorite reseeder. First off, you should know that I really love groundcovers. I would rather see a plant than bark mulch any time. Ajuga is a favorite because there are several forms (my favorites are ‘Black Scallop’, shown here, and ‘Chocolate Chip’) and because they can handle most conditions from sun to shade. Popping up next to it is Talinum paniculatum ‘Limon’ (Jewels of Opar). It reseeds around the garden and I just move it around where I want the chartreuse, succulent foliage. Tiny flowers in red and pink bobble on with stems, looking a bit like peppercorns. Then they drop their seed and come back the next year.
Make this the year that you grow a plant you know Make this the year that you grow a plant you know very little about. If you love your garden that’s all that matters. BUT I promise you’ll find even more joy it it when you broaden your horizons. I feel like I’m starting to see the same plants in gardens over and over again. By all means appreciate and love those plants, but also add something you have to learn about. There is great reward in getting to know new-to-you plants. 

Here are two good candidates you might consider: Athyrium niponicum (Japanese painted fern) ‘Crested Surf’ and Persicaria (or Bistorta, thanks to the taxonomists) amplexicaulis ‘Golden Arrow’.
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