Now, you too, can grow your very own Papever Somniferum poppy plant garden. These seeds are viable for planting and come from the same region as the famous Afghanian poppy plant comes from.
You will receive 2 ounces of fresh and viable, Papever Somniferum seed. Each ounce is said to have, up to 100,000 seeds! Shipping is $5.02 with tracking.
These annual and perennial flowering plants have striking similarities, but a surprising range of colours and growth habits. It is easy to grow poppies from seeds. In the right setting, they grow and then self-sow with abandon, without becoming weedy.
Latin
Papaver nudicaule (perennial), P. rhoeas & P. somniferum (both annual)
Family: Papaveraceae
Difficulty
Easy
Season & Zone
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Zone: P. nudicaule is hardy to Zone 3
Timing
Start perennial poppies outdoors in early spring, when some chance of frost is still a possibility. Start annual varieties outdoors at the same time in Zones 3-7. In Zones 8-10, the best bet is to direct sow in the fall. Please remember, that these seeds need to go through ONE winter, before they will grow. If purchasing during warmer months. You can simply put them in the freezer for a few weeks to make the seeds think they are going through winter. Then continue to plant them as you would normally.
Poppies are famously difficult to transplant, so starting them indoors is not recommended. If absolutely necessary, use peat or coir pots, and maintain a soil temperature of 12°C (55°F). Seeds will sprout in 20-30 days.
Starting
Sow on the surface of the soil, or barely cover seeds. Thin to a minimum of 15cm (6″) apart.
Growing
Poppies are easy to grow and the self-sow with abandon, without becoming weedy. Simply pull up unwanted plants (an easy task) before they bloom, or better yet, let them tell you where they want to grow. They will thrive for years at a time in surprising spots, like a crack in the driveway. Other times, they simply won’t take, no matter how much you try. Keep them moderately well watered in hot, dry weather, and do not fertilize.
For the largest heads on Papaver somniferum, sow seeds in the fall or early winter. Thin plants to allow them some space, and keep the area weeded as plants grow larger. Grow this variety in full sun in well-drained, but ordinary garden soil. If spring and summer are cool and damp, or plants are over-crowded, expect smaller seed heads.
Storage
Harvested seeds maintain their flavor and quality for culinary purposes for quite some time; however, seed viability is lost quickly. Store seeds in a cool, dry, dark place. Seeds intended for re-planting should not be stored for more than one year.
Frequently Asked Question
Is it illegal to grow seed poppies in the U.S.? Seed poppy can be grown legally for garden and seed production purposes; however, it is illegal to manufacture opium from the poppies.