How to Grow Poppy Flowers {Start to Finish}

I don’t know about you, but I love poppy flowers and I just can’t get enough of them. This year I planted 3 varieties:

• Oriental Blend
• Lauren’s Grape
• Hungarian Blue

Brief description: Poppy flowers are absolutely gorgeous.  They are very heat and drought tolerant, so they require almost no care {yay!}.  They are technically an annual, but have been known to overwinter, even in colder climates.

Where to Plant Poppy Seeds:  Plant in raised beds, garden beds, and borders in full sun to part shade.

Planting Seeds:   Start seeds outdoors 4 weeks before average last frost.  To sow, scatter seeds and then gently rake them in.

Growing Tips:   Deadhead fading flowers to encourage new growth throughout the summer {unless you plan on harvesting your poppy seeds for later use}.

{photo credit}

How to Harvest:  To make poppy flowers last longer in a vase, cut them and burn the poppy stems.  Since their stems bleed a milky substance the second you pluck them, poppies quickly wilt if the ends aren’t sealed. Burn the cut stem ends immediately with a lighter, match or candle, then plunge them into cool water for a lasting display well worth the work.

Facts about Poppies:  Poppies are a narcotic. They are used to make Codeine, Morphine, and Opium.  Poppy seeds are also a treat to many birds, so if you choose to let your flowers dry out and harvest the seeds, try mixing them in with your bird seed.

Are you ready to start your garden but you’re not sure when you should plant your seeds or set out your transplants? Head on over HERE and you’ll be taken to a handy dandy chart that is broken down into what vegetables should be planted {or transplanted} each month in your area.

Anyone can do this. Dirt + Seeds+ Water = Food!

~Mavis