Helpful tips and ideas for new additions to your garden:

Poppies are a great addition to any garden, adding colour and interest with their brightly coloured petals. They are usually red in colour, but there are also varieties that are yellow, purple and even bright blue!

Propagating Poppies

Poppies are versatile and can be divided in spring or propagated by using root cuttings:

1. Select medium thickness roots and cut into 8cm sections. Angle the lower cut, but cut the top straight across to help you remember which way up to plant the cutting.

1. Place the cuttings vertically into free-draining compost, so that the tops are level with the surface. Keep them in a sheltered position outdoors over the winter.

Growing Poppies from Seed

Most poppies including Eschscholtzia (California poppy), Papaver Rhoeas (corn poppy) and Papaver Somniferum are easily propagated from fresh seeds:

• Wait until the seed pods are just turning brown, but make sure you gather them before the cap lifts or splits.

• Sow seed thinly on the surface of the compost and leave uncovered.

• As soon as seedlings are big enough to handle it, prick them out into individual pots.

Himalayan Poppies

Himalayan poppies are really unusual, with their eye-catching bright blue petals. They can add real interest to your garden if you follow these tips:

1. Sow fresh seed in individual modules, as these plants hate root disturbance.
2. To help prevent fungal problems, water them with a solution of the chestnut compound.
3. Ensure seedlings don’t become to dry or too wet.
4. Sow in September or February. They can be placed outdoors but ideally out of direct sunlight.
5. In spring, bring into the warmth (15ºc). Germination usually takes about three weeks.
6. Harden off and grow outdoors once they have grown two pairs of true leaves.

Blue Iris Landscapes hope that this Plant Focus has given you some helpful tips on growing Poppies in your garden but if there is anything else that you want to know about Poppies then contact us.