"Breadseed poppies" (Papaver somniferum) Red, Red, Red with shimmering, silky petals. A fresh crop of organic seeds, available while they last at Gatehouse Seeds, USDA Zone 8-b. Reefnet Bay Road, Shaw Island, San Juan Archipelago, WA. |
Botanical name: Papaver somniferum
Plant type: Hardy annual.
Flowers: late spring to early summer.
Foliage: broad lettuce-like leaves.
Height: 24"-36"
Position: Full sun for best flowering.
Attracts: Pollinator bees and butterflies but NOT deer.
Sowing: Direct broadcasting, thinly, in late winter, where they are to grow.
Roots are very sensitive; the seedlings do not transplant well.
Soil: fertile/well-draining. Enrich with manure, compost, or organic fertilizer rich in Nitrogen in the beginning. At 8 weeks, fertilize with high Phosphorus for flowering.
Notes: Will readily self-seed. If for some strange reason that is not desired, deadhead the pods before they ripen.
Uses: pods are beautiful in flower arrangements. Flowers suited for cottage and informal gardens.
Origin: According to Seedaholic (U.K.) the poppy was cultivated in Europe since the Neolithic era, thousands of years ago. Probably one of the earliest plants cultivated in that region.
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