Spring/summer bloom
Frost hardy
Sow seeds directly into a finely textured garden bed in full sun as early in spring as ground can be worked. To help space these small seeds, it’s helpful to mix them with dry sand before sowing. Cover very lightly with fine soil and keep seed bed moist as seedlings emerge over 10 to 21 days.
Poppies do not transplant well, so we advise sowing the seeds directly in the garden. For good garden performance, be sure to thin crowded seedlings early; final plant spacing should be 4 to 6 inches apart, so plants have room to grow, mature and bloom.
Plant as early as possible in spring, as poppies can handle frost and bloom best and longest when plants get a good start in cool weather. In mild winter climates, you can also sow seed in late fall to form strong root systems and overwinter for earliest spring bloom. Weed and water young seedlings carefully. Mature plants can handle dry conditions but appreciate regular water in hot summer locations. Poppies make good cut flowers if cut just as buds begin to open. Allow spent flowers to form pods and drop seed if you want flowers to self-sow for next season’s bloom.
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