Poppy Flanders

Poppy Flanders single, red, cup-shaped flower is the classic poppy bloom. With its brilliant scarlet flowers and black blob at the base of the petals, this wild flower needs no introduction. Among all of the flowers that evoke a memory or emotion, this flower ranks highly as it is the poppy which speaks of World War I. It is also known as a corn poppy or a field poppy.

It offers a profusion of flowers in Spring and Autumn in temperate areas and are a good choice for a meadow garden, flower lawn, or anywhere you want a bright splash of colour with no maintenance. It self-sows readily and the plant is relatively hardy.

Germination rates can be improved by cold stratifying the seed prior to sowing. To do this mix equal parts of seed and damp sand in a container and store in the refrigerator (not freezer) for 6 weeks. Do not use sand that is dripping wet otherwise your seeds may rot.  Remove the container from your refrigerator and sit the container in lukewarm water overnight before sowing out the seeds. This process tricks the seeds into thinking they’ve experienced a cold Winter and the warm soak afterwards helps to speed up germination.

Poppies do best if planted directly outdoors in their intended location rather than transplanting them. The seeds should not be planted deeply; they just need to be compressed into the soil, as they need light to germinate. The best method for planting is to mix one part seed with 5 parts sand and scatter over the prepared growing area. Poppies should be watered regularly, but they can tolerate dry conditions. It is not necessary to fertilize poppies.

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