Description
Papaver somniferum var. paeoniflorum
Transplant (recommended): Sow indoors 5 weeks before final frost, sowing 2 seeds per cell barely covered with soil. Thin to 1 & transplant once 3 true leaves have emerged, around (could be before) last frost, 6-8” between plants. Soil blockers recommended. (see blog post all about poppies!)
Direct Sow: Early spring, as soon as soil can be worked, sow 8 seeds/foot & thin to 2/foot once true leaves emerge.
Days to Germination: 7-21, Days to Maturity: 50, Plant spacing after thinning: 6 inches, Height: 24-36 inches
The most serious problem for these poppies is root rot. Excellent drainage is a must. Once they get established the plants are very hardy.These poppies are annuals, but on a well-grown peony poppy, the blossom can be just as large as the perennial Oriental poppy, and they bloom later than their perennial cousins. And most people don’t seem to know that you can deadhead peony poppies to get rebloom. Follow the stem of the spent bloom down to the first set of leaves and cut the stem just above those leaves. In many cases you can see the incipient flower bud forming where the leaf attaches to the stem.
The flowers of this variety of poppy aren’t particularly long lasting. Cut flowers last just 2-3 days in the vase if you’re lucky. Harvest when ½ open and sear the bottom end in boiling water for 7-10 seconds. Seed pods can be dried and used indefinitely.
Approx 50 seeds Annual
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