A beautiful mixture of pleated blooms in misty shades of pink pirouette gracefully at the ends of the wiry stems. Best in drifts, and so easy to grow, just plant when the spring weather is still cool, and frost is possible. Self sows.
Lifecycle: Annual
Hardiness: Hardy Annual
Size: 1.5-2' h x 8" w
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Rich, moist, well-drained
Season: Spring to summer
Seed to Bloom: 14 weeks
Colour: Mix of pearly pinks
GROWING GUIDE
SOWING INSTRUCTIONS:
Depth: Surface sow; requires light to germinate
Sprout Time: 5-14 days
Starting Outdoors: Recommended. Direct sow 4 weeks before last spring frost. Mix seed with fine sand to scatter thinly over prepared soil to avoid overcrowding.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Poppies are the obsession of honeybees that unfailingly crowd around the flowers as they are freed from their corset of sepals, just to be the first to sample their golden crown of pollen. Add to vegetable plots, meadows, and borders, where their early flowering fills gaps in perennial bloom times with luminous flowers.
Final Spacing: 8"
Water Use: Medium Water Use
Watering Details: These plants prefer evenly moist soil, but can tolerate drought. About an inch of water per week.
Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral—if soil is acidic, add some lime before planting.
Fertilizer: Mix in 2" inches of compost prior to planting.
Diseases & Pests: Fungal diseases can be prevented by regularly spraying with organic fungicides and spacing at least 1' apart for good air circulation. If slugs and snails damage seedlings, sprinkle the surrounding soil with pelletized iron phosphate, crushed eggshells, or diatomaceous earth.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
Plant: Prickly green stems with somewhat thick, fern-like to lacey foliage with toothed edges.
When to Cut: Cut when buds develop colour and hold stem tips in boiling water for about 20 seconds. Alternatively, sear the cut end of the stem, or pick in the evening as the buds lift upward and plunge up to their buds in hot water for an overnight soak. All methods will allow for a short-lived beautiful cutflower
50+ seeds per packet. One packet left. No holds. Pick up only.