Poppy is the common name for plants in the Papaveraceae family. Within this group there are annuals, perennials and biennials. They include oriental poppies, field poppies Welsh poppies and Himalayan poppies.
Their summer flowers may be fleeting but they make a wonderful addition to the garden in May and June.
Large-flowered oriental poppies are the most popular poppy to grow. They have hairy flower stems and foliage. Flower petals can be ruffled, crimped or shaggy, and range in colour from white to pink, purple and red. They can measure about 15cm across.
Other popular poppies to grow include field poppy, Papaver rhoeas, and opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. For those looking for a challenge, try growing blue Himalayan poppies, Meconopsis betonicfolia.
Poppies are beautiful flowering plants that brighten up gardens with their colorful blooms in spring and early summer But once their initial flowering period is over, many gardeners wonder what to do next with their poppies Proper care after flowering is important for maximizing the beauty and longevity of poppy plants. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about caring for poppies after they bloom.
Deadheading Faded Flowers
The most vital post-bloom care for poppies is deadheading. This involves removing spent flowers by snipping or pinching them off. For annual poppies like Shirley poppies deadheading helps reduce unwanted self-seeding. For perennial oriental and Icelandic poppies it encourages more blooms later in the season.
Deadhead poppies as soon as flowers fade and petals drop. Leaving old blooms to form seeds redirects energy away from producing new buds. Use clean bypass pruners or garden scissors to snip off flowers just below the spent bloom. Removing the entire stem back to the base of the plant results in a tidier appearance.
Make deadheading a habit throughout the blooming season. Oriental and Icelandic poppies can re-flower in late summer or fall if old blooms are promptly removed. For annuals, regular deadheading prolongs the initial flowering display before the plants fade.
Cutting Back Foliage
In mid to late summer when poppy plants start to decline, cut back the yellowing foliage. Use bypass pruners to first snip off any dead leaves and stems by hand to avoid damaging new growth emerging from the base. Then remove all remaining top growth by cutting directly to the ground.
You can also use a string trimmer set to a high blade height to quickly chop back large patches of poppies. Just be careful not to damage the plant crowns. Discard cut foliage or add it to the compost pile. This pruning makes room for any late perennials still flowering into fall.
Collecting Seeds
Many gardeners grow Shirley poppies specifically to gather the tiny, pepper-like seeds once blooming concludes. Checking seed pods daily and harvesting once they fully dry allows you to collect seeds for re-planting.
Look for pods that are dry, brown, and segmented. Give them a shake to listen for seeds rattling inside. Use your fingers to gently pry open pods to inspect seed maturity. Ripe ones will be plump and dark brown. Gather pods into paper envelopes or bags to catch seeds as they spill out when totally dry.
While perennial poppies do produce some seed pods, they don’t yield enough to make seed collection practical. Gathering large quantities of seeds requires growing annual Shirley poppies.
Marking Perennial Poppy Locations
Oriental, Icelandic, and orientale poppies die back completely after flowering. Mark their location to avoid accidentally digging them up or damaging roots when dormant. Place markers at the base of each clump, outline areas with stones, or mulch around plants.
Remove markers and pull mulch away from the crowns in spring as new growth appears. Take care when working in marked locations to avoid unintentionally disturbing dormant poppy roots.
Fertilizing in Fall
Poppies thrive in nutrient-poor soil and don’t require fertilizer for healthy growth. However, applying a balanced organic fertilizer or compost around oriental and Icelandic poppies in late fall benefits the plants. It fuels root growth and nutrients that enhance flowering next season.
Scatter a thin layer of compost or fertilizer around plants after the ground cools but before it freezes. Water in well to encourage penetration into the root zone. Avoid fertilizing during winter dormancy or when the ground is frozen solid.
Allowing Some Self-Seeding
When deadheading spent annual poppy flowers, leave a few seed pods in place here and there. This allows some natural reseeding to perpetuate these short-lived plants. Shirley poppies readily self-sow but normally not far from the original location.
Monitor self-sown seedlings in spring and early summer. Thin as needed to achieve desired fullness and pluck out any unwanted sprouts. Allowing a reasonable amount of volunteers to grow results in a continuous supply of poppies.
Why Deadheading is Important
Deadheading is the most vital aspect of caring for poppies after blooming. Here’s why it’s so beneficial:
- Encourages more flower bud production
- Extends the overall flowering period
- Redirects energy from forming seeds to new growth
- Improves airflow and decreases disease
- Keeps plants looking neat and tidy after initial blooms fade
Staying on top of removing spent blooms keeps poppies flowering for as long as possible. Combine deadheading with proper watering, fertilizing, and cutting back spent foliage for maximized beauty from these flowering favorites.
Common Poppy Care Questions
For first-time poppy growers, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about care:
How often do poppies need watering?
Poppies thrive in drier conditions and overly moist soil causes root rot. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry out between deep waterings. Established plants are quite drought tolerant with supplemental irrigation during dry periods.
Should Oriental poppies be deadheaded?
Yes, deadheading oriental poppies and other perennial types encourages reblooming later in the season. Removing spent blooms right after flowering also limits unwanted self-seeding.
Can you cut back Iceland poppies?
Absolutely. Cutting back foliage to the ground on Iceland poppies and other perennial types after flowering helps the plants rejuvenate. They will generate new basal leaves and may rebloom in fall.
Do poppies spread aggressively?
Annual Shirley poppies readily self-sow but are easy to control by removing unwanted seedlings. Oriental and Iceland poppies spread slowly via underground rhizomes but are not aggressively invasive.
Are poppies difficult to grow?
Not at all! Poppies are easy to grow from seed and require minimal care. They thrive in poor, sandy soil with full sun. Just scatter seeds, water occasionally, and provide good drainage.
Enjoy Poppies Year After Year
With proper deadheading and follow-up care after flowering, poppies will continue gracing your garden with bountiful blooms. A little attentive pruning and maintenance keeps them flowering longer and returns year after year. Incorporate these tips into your care regimen for healthy, thriving poppies.
Propagating poppies[image id=”34862″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” align=”none” title=”How to grow poppies – collecting poppy seeds from seedheads” alt=”How to grow poppies – collecting poppy seeds from seedheads” classes=””] How to grow poppies – collecting poppy seeds from seedheads
Poppy seed can remain in the soil for decades. If ground is cultivated and the seed moved to the surface they’ll germinate after years lying dormant in the soil. After flowering, avoid deadheading annual poppies to allow them to set seed.
In this practical video from Gardeners’ World, Monty Don shows you how to collect seeds from opium poppies (Papaver somniferum), with tips on how to store them: Green Video Post Element Video ID: “5d8ab76a678fd82fdfc4395f5b82f84f138b8958” Mix ID: “” Player ID: “qAUyOzk5” If the player doesnt appear here within a few seconds, the Player ID or Licence Key (set via IM Green Suite settings) might be invalid.
Find out how to sort self-sown opium poppies, in Monty’s video from the Jewel Garden at Longmeadow: Green Video Post Element Video ID: “69c7b145356c078d2db5024d6ae22189eefe18d7” Mix ID: “” Player ID: “qAUyOzk5” If the player doesnt appear here within a few seconds, the Player ID or Licence Key (set via IM Green Suite settings) might be invalid.
Most oriental poppies are hybrids, so won’t come true from seed. It’s therefore best to propagate oriental poppies by taking root cuttings in autumn or winter. Lift a mature plant carefully and trim off a section of root with the thickness of a pencil. Remove no more than one-third of the parent’s roots. Cut the root into 4cm lengths and push them vertically into a pot of cutting compost with the thickest end at the top. Cover the pot with a thin layer of grit, and water. Leave the pots in a cold frame and wait for little plants to form before potting on.
How to plant poppies[image id=”34861″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” align=”none” title=”How to grow poppies – a row of poppy seedlings” alt=”How to grow poppies – a row of poppy seedlings” classes=””] How to grow poppies – a row of poppy seedlings
Spring is the perfect time to plant oriental and Himalayan poppies. Dig a planting hole and add some well-rotted organic matter. Remove the plant from its pot and place it in the hole at the same depth it was in the pot. Backfill the hole and firm in place. Water well.
Annual and biennial poppies are usually grown from seed. Annual poppies should be sown direct on to well-prepared soil. Sow in spring, early summer or autumn, where they’re to flower. Prepare the soil by removing weeds and rake the ground level. Water the soil with a fine spray of water and then scatter the seed. There’s no need to cover it.
How do you keep poppies blooming?
FAQ
How do you keep poppies blooming all summer?
To encourage more blooms, deadhead the flowers once they fade. You can also cut down the stems to the ground if the plant enters summer dormancy.
What to do with poppies when they stop flowering?
Once flowers have faded and seeds released, pull up the parent plants and place them on the compost heap.Dec 22, 2019
Why is it illegal to grow poppies?
Trouble with the law? while it is perfectly legal to order and possess seeds of opium poppies, it may not be legal to grow them:Federal drug laws prohibit the possession of opium poppy plant parts other then seeds. These laws aim to prevent cultivation of opium for illegal narcotic use.