How2Day: Tips on Planting & Growing Poppies

Bright, wind-blown poppy flowers have nodded in gardens for over 5,000 years. Archaeologists found poppies in Egyptian tombs, and the mythical Roman goddess Demeter wove poppies, wheat and barley into her wreath as a sign of fertility. Although this flower has a weighty history, the plants themselves are carefree, cheerful and add a breezy, informal air to your garden. They are also easy to grow, often deciding to ornament other areas of your garden when your back is turned.

Choose poppies that suit your garden. Oriental poppies (Papaver orientale) grow 2 to 4 feet tall, but bend or collapse in windy areas. The spring to early summer flowers bloom in solid shades of red, pink and white and have an easily recognizable black mark at the base of each petal. Oriental poppies are happy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 9.

Icelandic poppies (P. nudicaule) grow 12 to 24 inches tall and bloom in late spring through summer in bright shades of red, orange and yellow. They are hardy in USDA zones 2 to 8 and are a good choice for colder gardens, but dislike boggy soils.

Annual Shirley poppies (P. rhoeas) bloom in clean pastels that fade next to brighter colors. Shirley poppies grow up to 4 feet tall and lack the black splotch on their petals that is a distinctive mark of their parent family, the field or corn poppy.

Plant poppies in a location that receives 6 hours of sun. In hot areas, give them some afternoon shade. Poppies are not fussy about their soil but grow best with average to moderately rich earth. Avoid wet areas; poppies will grow in nearly any soil but die back if the soil is constantly wet or poorly draining. Gardeners with wet soils often treat Icelandic poppies as annuals for this reason. Site your poppies where young "volunteers" will not detract from your garden plan.

Mix the small seeds with sand at a ratio of two parts sand to one part seed. This prevents over planting, cuts down on thinning and creates an even spread of flowers. Sow seed in early spring, when the ground becomes workable. In USDA zone 7 and above, you may sow seed in the fall. Poppies are cold tolerant and grow better in cool weather, often dying back when hot weather arrives before strengthening in the fall. When sowing seed, do not bury the seeds. Instead, sprinkle the seeds with a light layer of soil and water with a gentle spray. Keep the flower bed moist, but not soaked, until the seeds germinate. Poppies germinate in 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. If you plant annual poppies, sow a second area after the first one sprouts. This lengthens the bloom season and gives you continuous color.

Thin the poppies when they are 1 inch tall. Keep the emerging plants 6 to 10 inches apart. Although you may want to save every seedling, crowded beds are susceptible to disease. Poppies are low-maintenance after the original planting and thinning, but deadheading spent poppies encourages more blooms and reduces reseeding. Stake taller varieties if they flop or bend in the garden. Poppies do not need fertilization and are drought-resistant. When the season is particularly hot and dry, they appreciate supplemental water.

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