Poppy ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips

Plant poppies properly

Ready-grown poppies can be planted from mid-April, provided the weather is good. As long as the ice saints threaten to be present at night, the flower should not be put in the open air. While you are weeding and raking the bedding soil, the root ball is allowed to soak up water. Dig small holes 45-55 cm apart and mix the excavated material with compost and Horn shavings.(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) Then pot the young one Corn poppy and put it in the ground up to the lower pair of leaves. After watering, a layer of mulch made of leaves, bark mulch or grass clippings contributes to vital growth.
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Care tips

The minimal care program for a poppy can be mastered excellently even by hobby gardeners with a limited amount of time. We are talking about these manageable measures:

• Pour the poppy directly onto the roots when it is dry
• Fertilize every 4 weeks in poor soil or in a pot from April until the end of the flowering period
• Cut off the flower stems as soon as they have wilted

Since poppies take care of their own reproduction with bulging seed pods, the last flowers of the season remain in the bed. After the petals fall off, the capsule fruits ripen and burst, so that the fine seeds spread around the garden.

Which location is suitable?

If the poppy is spoiled by the sun's rays for several hours every day, it gives its best in its location. in the Penumbra the flower pile usually falls short of expectations. A sheltered location prevents disheveled flower heads, so a location in front of the south wall of the house is a wise choice. So that the long taproot can conquer the ground up to 1 meter deep unhindered, the soil should be loose, permeable and rich in nutrients.

The correct planting distance

With an average height of 30 to 80 cm with a clump-like habit, we recommend a planting distance of 45 to 55 cm. If you arrange poppies in small tuffs with 5-10 specimens each, the enchanting cupped flowers come into their own.

What soil does the plant need?

Corn poppies thrive in any good garden soil. The poppy plant shows itself from its most beautiful side when it is offered a sandy-loamy to gravelly-loamy and calcareous soil. Since waterlogging is the worst enemy of a poppy, the close proximity to a body of water should be avoided. If you cultivate the poppy in the balcony box or tub, it will thrive in common Potting soil based on compost, enriched with a handful of vital lime.

What is the best time to plant?

From April, specialist retailers will be offering pre-grown young plants in containers, which you can immediately plant in the bed or in the pot. Unless you send corn poppies sowing want to settle in the garden, the planting time extends from mid-March to the end of May. An autumn sowing in September / October results in an extra early flowering, but is regularly threatened by the rigors of winter weather. If you decide to sow in autumn, you should therefore opt for winter protection for the seedbed in the form of straw, brushwood or Garden fleece not around.

When is the flowering time?

Corn poppies show off their bright red or white flowers from May to July. A terminal single flower lasts for 2 to 3 days and then withers. As new inflorescences continue to develop over the entire flowering period, the colorful magic continues seamlessly. Cut off withered flower stems, lure out additional poppies. If you wish to self-sow this magnificent summer flower, you should be given the opportunity to develop the seed heads. In this case, the withered flowers must not be cut off at the end of summer.
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Cut the poppy seeds correctly

After a pruning in the sense of a shape and maintenance pruning, the poppy as an annual summer flower does not require. If you take the time to cut off dead flower stems, the effort will be rewarded with a long flowering period. If you feel disturbed by the dead leaves in autumn, cut them off near the ground. Please consider the toxic content of the milk juice and put on gloves to be on the safe side so as not to cause skin irritation.

Water the poppy

Corn poppies know how to cope with brief drought, whereas waterlogging means the premature end of the atmospheric blossoms. Pour the natural beauty in summer drought, with a targeted bombardment with the Garden hose is to be avoided. Ideally, you pour the water from the spout of the watering can directly onto the roots. In the pot and Flower box(€ 149.00 at Amazon *) on the other hand, is regularly watered because the flower cannot extend its taproot to the groundwater here, as in the Garden soil.
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Fertilize the poppy properly

In the nutrient-rich location, there is no need to give fertilizers, as the table for poppies is richly set here. If in doubt, a start fertilization in April with compost and horn shavings gives the poppy the desired growth spurt. If the soil turns out to be too acidic, provide a repeated dose of lime or Rock flour(€ 12.33 at Amazon *) for remedy. In the pot or balcony box, apply a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants in a diluted concentration every 4 weeks until the end of the flowering period.

Propagate corn poppies

The propagation of corn poppies succeeds without much fuss by means of direct sowing in the bed. Prepare a finely crumbly seedbed in the sunny, nutrient-rich location. As soon as the temperatures exceed 15 degrees from mid-March, sow the fine seeds widely. If you mix this with a little bird sand beforehand, the seeds will spread better. Thinly sift the seeds with fine soil, sand or vermiculite. After the substrate has been showered with water, spread a close-meshed net over it as a precaution. You can look forward to the first seedlings within 8 to 14 days.
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Corn poppy in a pot

In the pot, the poppy with its picturesque blossom attracts everyone's attention. So that it spreads this magic over many weeks of summer, everything revolves around the following measures in care:

• If the substrate dries, it is poured directly onto the roots
• Liquid every 4 weeks from April until the end of flowering fertilize in dilute concentration
• Immediately cut off the wilted flower stalks to attract a second bloom

Leave the last poppy flowers in the pot until the seed pods have developed. It contains valuable seeds for the next generation of flowers.

Is corn poppy poisonous?

Corn poppy is poisonous in all parts. The white milky juice in particular contains a high dose of toxic alkaloids. If a large amount of the seeds is consumed, it leads to considerable stomach and intestinal discomfort. First and foremost, children fall victim to the bright red seduction, stuff the flowers and seeds into their mouths. The result is stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is similar for domestic animals and grazing cattle as well as horses. Cultivate poppies only in locations where children and animals cannot access the flower.
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How do I harvest and sow corn poppy seeds?

When a poppy has finished this year's flower festival, the withered petals fall off and the seed pod develops. Once it has reached maturity, you will see several small holes in the lid of the capsule. Carefully cut off the capsule and place it in a fine tea strainer so that the tiny seeds are not lost. Take the seeds out of the capsule in a sheltered, dry place. It is now up to you to decide whether to sow the seeds in the bed straight away or wait until the following March. In any case, the process of sowing proceeds in these steps:

• Weed the earth in a sunny, sheltered location, clearing it of stones and roots
• First with the rake, later with the Rake Prepare the soil finely crumbly
• Sow the seeds wide and thinly sift them with sand, earth or vermiculite

After you have moistened the bed with a fine shower, spread a close-meshed net because otherwise the seeds in the beak of pecking birds or in the hungry stomachs of animal gardeners land. At a constant temperature of 15-20 degrees Celsius, germination begins within 8-14 days. During this time, keep the bed free of weeds and constantly slightly moist.
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What is the effect of poppy flowers?

Although orthodox medicine vehemently denies it, healers have sworn by the calming effect of for generations Corn poppy flowers. Dried and prepared as a tea, poppy flowers soothe a tense nervous system without harmful side effects. However, the plant does not contain any morphine, as is the case with opium poppies. Collect the flowers as soon as they have unfolded. Dry the harvest in an airy, not too bright place. With a little luck, the red color will remain. Sometimes, however, the petals turn gray, which does not detract from their effectiveness. Pour boiling water over them, let the tea steep for 15 minutes and enjoy it in small sips. Those who suffer from skin problems wash themselves repeatedly with the tea to get relief.
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Nice varieties

• Angels Choir: Magnificent variety with bright red, lush double flowers
• Cabrita: Historic variety from 1800 with pure white bowl flowers, ideal for the romantic cottage garden
• Pierrot: Red cup flowers with conspicuous black spots characterize this variety
• Ladybird: Delicate dwarf variety with red, black-drawn cup-shaped flowers; ideal for balcony boxes and buckets
• Silk poppy: large mixture of red, white and pink flowers with double flowers