Plant from seed sown in autumn and they should flower from September, although it can be October or November in cold areas. The flowers resemble Iceland poppies, except that their petals seem even more delicate. TOP TIP: Pick them as soon as you see a blush of colour in the unopened bud SHIRLEY POPPIES ( PAPAVER RHOEAS VARIETIES)īred from the Flanders poppy, the Shirley poppy brings forth its parent’s best attributes, minimises its weed-like qualities and offers a greater range of colours – pink, scarlet and white. If you don’t pick the blooms it’s essential that you deadhead the spent blooms to keep them flowering. Poppies love gardeners who pick for the vase – the more you pick them, the more they flower.Look out for snails when the plants are small.All poppies need is well-drained soil and plenty of sun.In February/March, refrigerate the seed for a month before sowing. In warm areas, collect the seed and store it in an airtight container. The seedpods produce seed aplenty, but germination is erratic unless you have a cold winter which promotes germination. While the plants can look a little weedy when growing, they make up for it in spring with their gorgeous offering of scarlet petals, each painted with a black blotch on its base. Each year on 11 November, poppies are worn to commemorate the armed forces who died in the World Wars.įlanders poppies are best grown by scattering seed thinly over a turned bed. The Flanders poppy is said to have appeared out of the ruptured earth of the European battlefields where some of the worst fighting took place during World War I. Although perennial, they are mostly treated as annuals and should be pulled out when they start to look scruffy. While Californian poppies don’t make good cut flowers, they are edible and can be used to brighten up a salad. Plant seedlings throughout the year for continuous colour. If planted in autumn, the first blooms will appear in September with the main flush in October. Being California natives they are particularly at home in winter rainfall areas, but can be grown on the Highveld if watered well. Their blue-grey foliage and flowers, ranging from pale yellow to bright red, borne on top of a stocky base (about 30 x 30cm) make an attractive show. Grown from seed or seedlings, Californian poppies are hardy, performing in poor soil and through dry spells. CALIFORNIAN POPPY ( ESCHSCHOLZIA CALIFORNICA)
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