Poppy Tips?

[That Guy in the Bushes]

Last year I grew a few poppies, and since it is about planting time again I thought i'd come in here for any tips or advice to get the most out of my harvest!

Here are a couple of bad phone pics of some of my harvest last year (papaver somniferum giganteum if anyone is interested):
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/8454/photo0030kn5.jpg
http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/4156/photo0036tw0.jpg

I didn't do anything special last year at all, simply planted, watered, added some sea weed based fertilizer (added to all of my garden, I was growing vegetables and other things as well) and then waited. I'm by no means an expert but do really enjoy having a garden so I figure I may as well do it properly.

Any advice? Good grow guides? I have about 3 pods worth of seeds that I will crack out and plant soon!

[JREwing]

Those poppies look awesome. Why don't you just go to the supermarket and buy a big bag of poppy seeds, they're really cheap, and you can just scatter them everywhere and they'll grow. Are you harvesting the resin off them, or just ornamental?

[Eridani]

since it is about planting time again

Really? I normally start them in April/May. Nevermind, just noticed you're in Australia.

Anyway, the hardest part of growing poppies is germinating them. If you want to be guaranteed the best results get an egg box with some compost in each section and put about 10 seeds in each one. Keep them damp ie. not swimming in water - best thing is one of those bottles with a "mister" attachment.

If you can't be bothered doing that then just chuck some in the soil; some will grow but not many compared to if you do it like that.

Why don't you just go to the supermarket and buy a big bag of poppy seeds, they're really cheap, and you can just scatter them everywhere and they'll grow.

I'm pretty sure they do something to the culinary ones to stop people growing them. In the UK they do at least.

[JREwing]

I'm pretty sure they do something to the culinary ones to stop people growing them. In the UK they do at least.

Well, all the culinary poppy seeds I've tried grew just fine.

[fuckbiscuit]

Last year I grew a few poppies, and since it is about planting time again I thought i'd come in here for any tips or advice to get the most out of my harvest!

Here are a couple of bad phone pics of some of my harvest last year (papaver somniferum giganteum if anyone is interested):
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/8454/photo0030kn5.jpg
http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/4156/photo0036tw0.jpg

I didn't do anything special last year at all, simply planted, watered, added some sea weed based fertilizer (added to all of my garden, I was growing vegetables and other things as well) and then waited. I'm by no means an expert but do really enjoy having a garden so I figure I may as well do it properly.

Any advice? Good grow guides? I have about 3 pods worth of seeds that I will crack out and plant soon!

I grew some pods last year too, didn't realize they get so high. Mine were also giganteum :)

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/discreethobo/photo-3.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/discreethobo/photo.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/discreethobo/photo-2.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/discreethobo/photo-1.jpg

[Eridani]

Well, all the culinary poppy seeds I've tried grew just fine.

Fair enough, I only tried with a bag of seeds from the supermarket once and nothing happened. Must have just been bad luck or something.

[That Guy in the Bushes]

Just planted a few seeds today, may plant a few more in the next few days!

I have heard of people planting the super market seeds before as well. I think i'd rather know what strain they are though personally! I found my seeds on ebay, but I think the store shut down.

Hopefully these seeds germinate, I just prepared the soil a little and planted and gave a light watering. The rest is up to mother nature!