Growing Poppies

Planting the Seeds

• Do not bury: Poppy seeds are tiny. Scatter them directly over the surface of the soil or thin layer of snow. Do not rake them under or cover them with thick soil or mulch, as they require light to grow.

• Mix with sand: Mix the fine seeds with a bit of fine horticultural sand or coffee grounds to help spread them evenly.

• Press down: Gently press your hand or the back of a spoon over the seeds to make good contact with the soil, but do not push them deep.

Care and Maintenance

• Watering: Keep the soil moist using a gentle mist or a watering can with the rose head turned upward so you do not wash the tiny seeds away.

• Thinning: Once seedlings sprout and reach a few inches tall, thin them out so they are spaced about 3 to 4 inches apart to prevent overcrowding and weak plants.

• Avoid transplanting: Poppies grow deep taproots and do not like being moved, which is why direct sowing in their permanent spot is always best.