I love poppies of all kinds. Over the course of several years, I have faithfully sown the seeds in the spring only to have the heavy rains of April and May beat the small seedlings into sodden destruction. Finally, a year or two ago, I found a way to beat the rain; winter Sowing works for growing poppies. What is Winter Sowing? To winter sow a seed you cut a gallon milk carton, or other large plastic bottle, in half, punch some drainage holes in the bottom, fill with an inch or two of seed starting soil, sow a few seeds, close, duct tape and put in a sunny spot in your garden…oh and of course I forgot the most important part…you do this smack in the middle of the coldest months of the year.
Winter sowing is perfect for growing poppies. I have many new plants spread throughout my gardens, thriving and growing at the present time. I also have quite a few naturalized plants from poppies I grew last year, courtesy, once again, of winter sowing.
Here is a site that will tell you more about winter sowing: Winter Sowing
I love the blue-green tones of poppy foliage. I also love the anticipation I feel when a bud is about to POP!
An added bonus for me are the beautiful seedpods.
Hello Gorgeous!
I love this portrait I unknowingly captured of a little hover fly collecting nectar from the pink poppy. His or her face is visible, the delicacy of the wings highlighted and transparent against the bloom of the flower. God’s creations continuously amaze me. I must remember to thank him every day for the beauty all around me, the obvious glories that I see, and also the wonderful hidden things I often don’t notice.
MINDING MY P'S WITH Q 
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Hi Kathy, I didn’t know these flowers were called poppies and that they had a seed pod waiting to pop. When you transplant these seedlings on the ground, do they catch ?
I love your descriptions.
Thank you God for your wonderful creations.
Susie
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Hi Susie, They do grow. It has been the only way they will grow for me. They develop long tap roots, but somehow sowing them in containers like this works for me. The seeds are so small, if I plant them outside they wash away in the heavy rains. Kathy
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But do you finally transplant them into soil and if so, at what age ?
When you use the plastic containers for winter sowing, do you cut them in half, longitudinally ( length wise) or breadth wise ? What is the purpose of cutting the containers ?
Susie
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I do transplant them into the garden soil. Usually between April 15th and the 30th in my area. Poppies like colder temperatures, but if a frost would be forecast during that time I would cover them with a sheet or milk carton just to be sure they would survive. I cut the containers around the middle…leaving a small area intact near the handle. This lets you bend the top over to plant the seeds. I then flip the top back over, and place duct tape around the middle to seal it. I write the name of the seeds with permanent magic marker on the side and top. I leave the cap off so a little moisture can get in, and it also keeps the carton from becoming too hot. Some seeds will not sprout in extremely hot conditions. This is why this works for a lot of different types of plants…It is cool for now…so seeds that sprout in cool weather can survive, and then as the temperature increases the seeds that like to sprout in very warm conditions begin to grow. I hope you will try it Susie. 🙂
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