It’s easy to grow your own flowers from seed. Here’s beautiful flowers, growing information & seed collections for gifts.
COUNTRY GARDEN SEED SHOP
Papaver somniferum Collection
A collection of three different poppies, all packaged individually and all beautiful and useful too. Opium Poppies are some of the easiest and most gorgeous flowers to grow from seed with large open papery blooms.
Lauren's Grape is tall with large deep purple/plum flowers followed by lovely fat seed heads.
Maanzaad Poppies have large white/pale pink flowers with dark plum splotches followed by lovely fat seed heads. Often called the Breadseed Poppy Maanzaad Poppies produce masses of seeds which can be used in bread making. In fact this is probably the best bread seed poppy.
Hungarian Blue Poppies are not actually blue, they have large deep purple/plum flowers with dark splotches followed by lovely fat seed heads.
Flowers are produced from late spring (end of May) to late summer (August). If you need some colour in your life and plenty of it then these easy to grow flowers could be perfect for you! Poppies are brilliant planted in drifts and makes a lovely cut flower too. The seedheads can also be used in flower arrangements.
| Genus | Papaver somniferum |
| Varieties | Lauren's Grape, Maanzaad and Hungarian Blue |
| Plant Type | Hardy Annual |
| Height & Spread | 90cm tall x 30cm spread |
| Sow Seeds | Sow direct in spring and early summer for flowers this year. Poppies dislike root disturbance so it's best to sow where you want these poppies to flower. Seeds are tiny so do not cover them because they need light to germinate. Take care when watering to prevent the seeds being washed away. Alternatively sow in August or September for slightly earlier flowers next year. |
| Thin/Plant Out | Thin seedlings to allow sufficient space (30cm) for the young plants to grow and develop. |
| Conditions Required | Opium Poppies will grow in most garden situations ranging from full sun to dappled shade. They prefer moist but well drained soil. Protect from slugs and snails because they love Poppies. |
| Flower Production | Flowers produced in 10 -12 weeks from a spring sowing. Grow plenty and sow in succession for lots of blooms. eg: March, May and September. |
| Picking | Pick in the cool of the early morning or evening when the buds are just starting to break open. Poppies last just a couple of days in a vase but they are productive plants so harvest frequently to keep the blooms coming. Sear stem ends in boiling water for 20 seconds to prolong vase life and place immediately in fresh clean water. Seedheads can also be used in arrangements either freshly cut or dried. |
| Planting Combinations | If you want a good show of colourful blooms and plenty of flowers for cutting then sow these poppies with other tall annuals such as Ammi, Daucus and Dill or in the gaps between perennial flowers. |