Part III |
Growing Papaver Somniferum Poppies
(Part 3 of 5):
IMPORTANT! THIS “5-Part TUTORIAL”, IS BEST FOR COOLER CLIMATES!!
If you happen to live in a Warmer Climate, or you’re Planting Late, please see THIS TUTORIAL HERE
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Week 4
More Stages:
(3 to 4 Weeks)
Keep the soil well drained, and moist for the first couple weeks until you see the sprouts come up. Then cut back on the watering, only watering thoroughly every few days.
This supports the development of a Long & Strong Tap root (which Poppies are known for). Plus, it lowers the chance of mold and root rot, which poppies are very susceptible to. Keep the soil moist but not too wet.
Be careful when watering not to wash away the seeds or any new sprouts. Water gently with a spray bottle, or use a drip system. I recommend a drip system with either soaker or drip hoses. If Temperatures go above 65 (F) degrees during the Seedling Stage, see our other Tutorial for Tips on how to use Shade to your advantage.
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Week 5
(5 to 6 Weeks)
After the sprouts begin to grow, you will have to thin your plants to at least 12″ apart. The more room you give them, the bigger they’ll get. When I say thin, I don’t mean transplant, I mean remove. Just cut the stems of the smallest and weakest ones w/ scissors, and leave the biggest and most healthy looking.
By doing this, you may have less plants, but you’ll get more flowers and pods per plant that are Big & Strong. Rather than a bunch of weak, single flowered stems, which will blow over & die on a windy day.
03/11/2017 @ 5:07 pm
I have planted my poppies in several different stages starting in late January until a few weeks ago. The plants I started in January grew quickly but have pretty much stopped growing for the past few weeks. They are about 5 inches tall on average. Since I noticed them not growing any more I’ve thinned them out even more and cut back on watering. Any idea why they would stop growing? Would over watering affect them this way or is it too hot? I live in georgia so that’s why I started them in January. Any tips on how to get them out of this rut? Thanks. I love your site
03/11/2017 @ 5:40 pm
The reason the earlier planted ones did better is because Poppies prefer cool temps during germination.
Growth Variation is normal. Actually, Variation of ANY kind is Normal in Nature as explained in PART 4‘s Tutorial VIDEO @2:12
They are currently in “The Cabbage Stage”. This can last a couple months. So leave them alone and they will bloom when the time is right. Make sure you’ve thinned them down to just ONE SINGLE Poppy per 12″ (min.) to 18″ (pref.). Water them a couple times a weak, but give them a GOOD SOAKING when you do.
You should explore our F.A.Q’s and other Tutorials in our Blog. Such as THIS ONE for Planting in Warmer Temps
And the one called: “Weak, Dwarfed, or Dead, WHY?“ (there are VIDEOS within each of those – be sure to watch)
You can learn a lot more by reading the Comments and our replies to them (all 129 of them- 5 Sections | Bottom of PART 1 )
Lastly, try not to be discouraged by comparing the size of your poppies, with the Pics of ours (which aren’t precise to the date) and ours have over 15 Years experience behind them- We also hold the Record for the Biggest Poppies (both in Height- 7’ft 2″in Tall, and Bloom count- over 75+)
-OrgBot
03/12/2017 @ 8:23 am
Ok great. Thank you so much.