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Some Important Facts Must Be Considered Before Growing Poppies

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If you master the fundamentals, you’ll be able to grow poppies in no time. What you need to consider about poppy pods for sale.

Pay attention to the following information to quickly grow poppy plants in your garden:

Step 1)

The best time to start the process of sowing seeds is usually in the early autumn or spring. Planting poppy seeds in the autumn season results in earlier blooms the following spring, whereas cultivating in the spring results in earlier summer blooms. Another option is to sow half of your seeds in the autumn and half in the spring. Even though the optimal germination temperature is around 70 degrees, seeds can germinate above and below this ideal point.

To begin, scatter the seeds on the surface of loose, slightly moist soil. There is no need to put them in the ground. Watch for animals or insects that could disrupt your poppy growing process. Birds, for example, find the seeds quite tasty, so you may need to place a net over the seeds until they begin to develop.

Another option is to begin the process indoors, with artificial lighting. Poppy plants do not transplant well due to their sensitive root systems, so proceed cautiously. Slugs are voracious eaters and will devour them instantly, so as soon as you see shoots develop, scatter some slug poison around the plants.

Step 2)

Maintain moisture in the soil for at least the first few weeks or until sprouts sprout. At that point, you can reduce watering to once every few days if necessary. This encourages new shoots to develop a robust root system by forcing them to look for water deeper beneath the surface. Furthermore, it reduces the likelihood of mold and rot, which poppy flowers are particularly susceptible to.

Water the poppies with a low-pressure spray or lightly pouring from a container; otherwise, the seeds and new shoots will be washed away. Another effective way to provide much-needed moisture is gently misting it with a spray bottle. Another popular method is a drip system with a soaker or drip hoses connected to a timer.

When the shoots appear, thin your poppy flowers to at least 13 inches apart, a good rule of thumb is that the more space you give them, the bigger they’ll get. This is accomplished by weeding out the smallest and weakest plants while leaving the larger, healthier ones alone to grow.

This will result in more flowers and pods, with each plant that grows larger instead of a slew of weak, single-flowered plants. More mature poppies don’t need much watering, but when you do, give them a good soaking. This will promote rapid root growth. Furthermore, if possible, place them in an open area to expose them to as much sunlight as possible.

Step 3)

Poppy plants can thrive in both types of soil. However, organic fertilizers are recommended for the best results. Adding blood meal to the soil supplies much-needed Nitrogen for greener growth. After approximately 7-9 weeks of continuous development, phosphorus fertilizers are recommended to maintain consistent flowering.

After about 10-12 weeks, the flowers will begin to bloom. After about 2-3 days, the petals will fall off. The pods will then continue to grow for the next few weeks. During this time, it is critical not to water them unless necessary. The pods are ready for harvesting when they have a blue and green coloring with a white film on top.

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