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papaver somniferum seeds

How to grow papaver somniferum

Opium poppies are annuals, which means they grow, flower, and fruit in one season, then die. They generally like cool weather best. Barely cover the papaver somniferum seeds, and sow sparsely so you will have less to thin. The papaver somniferum seeds will germinate in 10-21 days and do best when the soil temperature is coolish, 60-65 degrees F (or air temperature of 55 degrees F). They will not grow if it is too warm. I have gotten the papaver somniferum seeds to germinate at 80 degrees F., although they obviously don't like it. What works better if it's warm is to plant them in peat pellets as usual and then put them in the refrigerator for a week. They will not germinate in there, but when you take them out, they will germinate en masse. This is a great way to get them around germinating in warm weather.

Thin seedlings by cutting off the tops with a scissors, leaving only the 2 or 3 healthiest looking per peat pellet. Pot them up pellet and all when they at least have their first true leaves, which are the second pair. I usually let my plants go until small roots are coming out the bottom or sides of the pellet.

While the papaver somniferum seeds are just coming up, watch out for damping off (fungus); when this happens, they suddenly keel over in unison. To avoid this, make sure they get air circulation (you can use a slow fan on the sprouts, which will strengthen stems also) and that they are not sopping wet. Another way to avoid damping off and build strong stems is to just lightly brush your hand over the tops of the plants every day. Most plants enjoy human contact.

Pot in soil that is not too heavy; mix sand, vermiculite, peat moss in if the soil is full of clay. Garden soil is too heavy for pot-bound plants. I get the best results with high quality potting soil, like Scott's, with some Black Cow Composted Manure mixed in (it doesn't smell). If you want good plants, it is worth it to invest in good soil.

Poppies can be grown indoors with lights (but keep temps cool). papaver somniferum seeds can be sown in fall if your winters are mild and you can give them some protection, or they can grow indoors in a cool sunny room (a sunporch is great). Outside, grow them in full sun and good soil that is not too wet. They will also grow well outside during the winter in the Deep South.

Poppies hybridize easily. If you do not exclude the pollen of other varieties, and you save the papaver somniferum seeds from year to year, eventually you will get more and more poppies of the dominant types--single-petaled lavender and white. If you want to preserve the seeds of a particular strain, then choose your biggest or earliest or healthiest, and as soon as the bud begins to open, cover it with a light cheesecloth or cheap muslin sack, the type used for small amounts of pot pourri or tea, or just make one from a bit of thin, white cloth. Tie lightly. Some people use little paper bags; others clip the petals closed. This is just to keep the bees off. Replace them when it rains so the plant doesn't get waterlogged. Take it off every day to fertilize the flower by brushing the pollen from the stamens (wiry things) to the ovary (in the center) lightly with an artist's paintbrush. When the petals fall, you can take the sack off, and the seeds produced by that pod should be the pure strain.

You can use this same technique to make your own hybrids, taking pollen from one type and putting it on another, which you cover in order to exlude all other pollen. What you get will be a mixed bag, but that is the fun of hybridizing. If you get something you really like, make sure to keep that plant self-fertilized until you get a good dependable seed for it.

Fruiting plants (which includes producing a papaver somniferum seeds pod) need more sun than any other kind of plant. Keep this in mind if trying to grow poppies for their papaver somniferum seeds pod indoors. You will need very good growing lights to get decent "fruit" production. General growing info.