(Papaver somniferum) A show stopper. Even flower farming veterans are astonished by these beauties when touring our home farm in past years. Impossibly huge peony-like pastel blooms from white to rose to deep purple. Not pastel, like easter kitsch, but pastel, like gorgeous antique flower paintings. The gene pool spans singles and doubles, many with frilly deeply serrated petals. Very top-heavy, 3-4’ plants benefit from staking or dense cluster-planting for support. Old and rare variety.
80 days. UO

Packet: 300 seeds

[split]

Growing Info

SOWING:

Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost.

Transplant out early Spring.

Direct sow in late Fall or early Spring.

Note: We transplant all our poppies in the Spring because, such small seeds and such hungry slugs! Take care to keep plants from becoming root-bound and be gentle when transplanting. Poppies prefer cool soil. Slugs LOVE poppy plants so keep and eye out!

PLANTING DEPTH:

1/8"

SPACING:

8-12" in rows 1.5' apart.

EMERGENCE:

7-21 days @ soil temp 50-70F

LIGHT:

Full sun to part shade

FERTILITY:

Low to average. Tolerant to most soil types but prefers well-drained and evenly moist soil with a pH between 6.0-7. Will tolerate low fertility.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Benefits from staking or netting to keep them upright and tidy.

Be gentle with the roots when transplanting to avoid transplant shock that can cause very slow growth.

Transplant into cool soil.

Continue to cut and deadhead and the plants will be wildly floriferous!

Harvest when flowers are 1/3 open, sear (10 seconds) and expect a short 2-3 day vase life.

Poppy, Peony, 'Flemish Antique'