Garden papaver flower. Annual poppy, perennial poppy, varieties, oriental poppy, peony poppy, growing from seeds. Growing poppies from seeds: planting poppies in open ground

Papaver - a familiar name? Most likely no. More recently, in connection with the publication of a law on the cultivation of narcotic plants, all poppy varieties that are not related to narcotic substances are called Papaver.

For me, of all the diversity of the Poppy family, Papaver (aka peony poppy) is of particular decorative value. Bright and at the same time delicate flowers personify summer itself. Their densely double large inflorescences of various colors make any plot or front garden special.

Moreover, from my own experience I can say that this elegant beauty is completely unpretentious and can grow in the same place for decades.

This flower can be found under the name peony poppy, densely double poppy. This is an annual herbaceous plant not exceeding a height of 90 centimeters. The bushes are quite compact, erect, with a small number of branches, and have a bluish green color. The foliage is the same color, jagged.

The root system is powerful and strong. On tall, weakly leafy peduncles, impressive-sized double inflorescences, similar to peonies, are formed. The color of the buds is predominantly pink, the flowering period is about a month from June to July.

After the flowers wither, a fruit-box is formed with a huge number of round small seeds, which, without control, can spread to the entire nearby territory.

Features of planting care for papaver

Peony poppy will not bring you much trouble; in fact, it can be compared to an ordinary weed that grows without human intervention. Therefore, even for minimal effort, a grateful plant will thank you with long and bright flowering.

Where to plant

The poppy prefers to grow in a bright place. This flower loves the sun; only light partial shade is acceptable. In the shade, the plant will wither and will not bloom. But the mechanical composition of the soil for poppy is not particularly important.

It develops well on loose, light sandstones, while clayey and loamy areas will negatively affect the condition of the plant.

The cause of the death of papaver may be waterlogging of the area. It categorically does not tolerate even the slightest stagnation of moisture in the ground, so this cannot be ignored when planting. It is best to place the poppy on a slight hill, and if this is not possible, then consider draining excess liquid and build reliable drainage at the planting site.

How to give water

Due to the fact that the plant is drought-resistant, prolonged drought will not affect its well-being in any way, the tap root of the poppy is long enough to penetrate deeply into the soil and obtain the necessary moisture.

But to preserve its decorative properties, it is better to water the plant from time to time. Watering should be moderate; the need for it is mainly felt during the flowering period.

What to feed

Peony poppy can grow without fertilizers. However, if you grow papaver in your garden, do not be lazy and feed it twice during the growing season - its foliage will acquire a rich, rich color, and the flowers will be large and bright.

It is best to use special liquid fertilizers for flowering garden plants; both mineral and organic preparations will give excellent results.

In the spring, when digging up an area for planting poppies, it is recommended to apply fertilizer; add it again in the fall after removing faded plants, before sowing seeds in the winter.

Is it possible to replant peony poppy?

Papaver does not tolerate transplants. Its long taproot is almost impossible to dig up without damage, and this can lead to cessation of development, lack of flowering, and even death of the bush. Therefore, it is recommended to disturb the bush only if absolutely necessary.

In fact, there is no point in replanting peony poppies, because it is an annual plant, which is much easier and more expedient to remove and grow again in a new place.

Does papaver need pruning?

Terry papaver as an annual crop does not need to be formed; the only thing that is needed is the timely removal of faded flowers. This way you stimulate the formation of new buds and increase their number.

If you want to get your own poppy seeds, leave a couple of capsules on the plant until they are completely ripe.

Peony poppy is beautiful to cut and is often used in floristry. To obtain a high-quality flower, cut it while still slightly open.

How does papaver winter?

Like all annual crops, terry papaver loses its decorative appearance after flowering. With the onset of autumn, the bush is removed and the soil underneath is dug up. Healthy old plants can be used as a good mulch material.

Pests and diseases, how to protect the plant

Peony papaver can be susceptible to diseases such as:

• Powdery mildew;
• Root rot;
• Black spot fungi.

Insect pests attack the plant much less frequently; the most common among them are spider mites and aphids.

If the degree of damage to the poppy is not very great, then it is enough to treat the plant several times with a strong soap solution. In more severe cases, only special insecticides designed to kill garden pests will help.

When the first symptoms of dangerous diseases are detected, the infected parts of the plant are cut off and destroyed. It is undesirable to leave them on the site, because they can infect other crops. As a preventative measure, bushes are sprayed with fungicides, copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture.

What problems can arise when growing poppies?

1. Excessively wet soil due to excessive and frequent watering can lead to wilting and ultimately the death of papaver;
2. Depleted soil and nutritional deficiency cause slow growth, weakness of the bush, shredding of inflorescences and paleness of their color.
3. The density of planting as a result of which the bushes become crowded affects the decorative qualities and size;
4. Lack of plant care or inappropriate care also negatively affects the well-being of plants;
5. Untimely removal of wilted inflorescences leads to the fact that the poppy devotes all its energy to the formation of seeds. As a result, the plant prepares for the end of the growing season and stops blooming. And, on the contrary, regularly getting rid of wilted flowers will significantly increase the flowering period;
6. An incorrectly chosen place for planting papaver can cause a lack of flowering, for example, it may be too dark a corner of the garden.

Papaver propagation: from collecting seeds to sowing them

Peony poppy is propagated by seed. Honestly, if you plant this plant in your garden at least once, then you don’t have to worry about the need to re-sow. The culture spreads extremely easily throughout the area by self-seeding.

For the planned collection of planting material, a couple of seed pods are left on the desired bush, removing all the others in a timely manner and preventing them from ripening. If growing poppies by self-sowing is not part of your plans, you can put thin cotton bags on the boxes. Then the seeds will not fall to the ground, even if the boxes open ahead of time.

Surprisingly, in the case of self-sowing, all specimens of peony papaver retain the double flowers, but their color changes to pink or pale pinkish.

If you need a poppy of a certain color, it is better to purchase seeds at a flower shop.

You can collect the seeds when the papaver leaves begin to turn yellow. Keep planting material in a cool, dry place in paper bags. The germination and quality of fresh seeds is much higher; over time, the risk of getting weak plants and low germination increases.

Papaver can be planted both in spring and autumn. True, these methods are slightly different from each other; let’s look at each in more detail.

Sowing in spring

They begin preparing the area for sowing as soon as the snow melts and the soil warms up to 3-5 degrees. The soil is well loosened, cleared of debris and roots, and fertilized. Poppy seeds are small, so it is recommended to first mix them with sand and then scatter them more or less evenly over the soil.

The plantings are carefully sprayed with water and covered with polyethylene to protect them from possible cold snaps and also to create a greenhouse effect.

After a week, friendly shoots will appear, and after a month and a half you will be able to admire the luxurious flowering.

Planting in autumn

This is pre-winter sowing, in other words, it is carried out in already cooled soil, right before the first snow. Seeds are scattered onto a previously prepared area and covered with dry leaves. Before the warm weather arrives, you can forget about crops; natural stratification will do its job.

You can lose planting material if you sow it in soil that has not completely cooled down; the grains will germinate, but the inevitably approaching cold will simply destroy them.

Winter sowing has a number of advantages. Firstly, the sprouts will appear much faster, which means you are guaranteed to get earlier flowering. Secondly, thanks to stratification, the plants will grow stronger and more viable.

Young shoots, regardless of the sowing method, are covered with film to prevent the possible return of spring frosts. After the sprouts have formed 3-5 true leaves, they are thinned out, leaving 10-20 cm between the plants.

Astrakhan tomatoes ripen remarkably well lying on the ground, but this experience should not be repeated in the Moscow region. Our tomatoes need support, support, garter. My neighbors use all sorts of stakes, tie-downs, loops, ready-made plant supports and mesh fencing. Each method of fixing a plant in a vertical position has its own advantages and “side effects”. I'll tell you how I place tomato bushes on trellises and what comes out of it.

Flies are a sign of unsanitary conditions and carriers of infectious diseases that are dangerous to both people and animals. People are constantly looking for ways to get rid of unpleasant insects. In this article we will talk about the Zlobny TED brand, which specializes in fly repellents and knows a lot about them. The manufacturer has developed a specialized line of products to get rid of flying insects anywhere quickly, safely and at no extra cost.

The summer months are the time for hydrangeas to bloom. This beautiful deciduous shrub produces luxuriously fragrant flowers from June to September. Florists readily use large inflorescences for wedding decorations and bouquets. To admire the beauty of a flowering hydrangea bush in your garden, you should take care of the proper conditions for it. Unfortunately, some hydrangeas do not bloom year after year, despite the care and efforts of gardeners. We will explain why this happens in the article.

Every summer resident knows that plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for full development. These are three main macronutrients, the deficiency of which significantly affects the appearance and yield of plants, and in advanced cases can lead to their death. But not everyone understands the importance of other macro- and microelements for plant health. And they are important not only in themselves, but also for the effective absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Garden strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, are one of the early aromatic berries that summer generously gifts us with. How happy we are about this harvest! In order for the “berry boom” to repeat every year, we need to take care of the berry bushes in the summer (after the end of fruiting). The laying of flower buds, from which ovaries will form in the spring and berries in the summer, begins approximately 30 days after the end of fruiting.

Spicy pickled watermelon is a savory appetizer for fatty meat. Watermelons and watermelon rinds have been pickled since time immemorial, but this process is labor-intensive and time-consuming. According to my recipe, you can simply prepare pickled watermelon in 10 minutes, and by the evening the spicy appetizer will be ready. Watermelon marinated with spices and chili can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Be sure to keep the jar in the refrigerator, not only for the sake of safety - when chilled, this snack is simply licking your fingers!

Among the variety of species and hybrids of philodendrons, there are many plants, both gigantic and compact. But not a single species competes in unpretentiousness with the main modest one - the blushing philodendron. True, his modesty does not concern the appearance of the plant. Blushing stems and cuttings, huge leaves, long shoots, forming, although very large, but also a strikingly elegant silhouette, look very elegant. Philodendron blushing requires only one thing - at least minimal care.

Thick chickpea soup with vegetables and egg is a simple recipe for a hearty first course, inspired by oriental cuisine. Similar thick soups are prepared in India, Morocco, and Southeast Asian countries. The tone is set by spices and seasonings - garlic, chili, ginger and a bouquet of spicy spices, which can be assembled to your taste. It is better to fry vegetables and spices in clarified butter (ghee) or mix olive and butter in a pan; this, of course, is not the same, but it tastes similar.

Plum - well, who isn’t familiar with it?! She is loved by many gardeners. And all because it has an impressive list of varieties, surprises with excellent yields, pleases with its diversity in terms of ripening and a huge selection of color, shape and taste of fruits. Yes, in some places it feels better, in others it feels worse, but almost no summer resident gives up the pleasure of growing it on his plot. Today it can be found not only in the south, in the middle zone, but also in the Urals and Siberia.

Many ornamental and fruit crops, except drought-resistant ones, suffer from the scorching sun, and conifers in the winter-spring period suffer from sunlight, enhanced by reflection from the snow. In this article we will tell you about a unique product for protecting plants from sunburn and drought - Sunshet Agrosuccess. The problem is relevant for most regions of Russia. In February and early March, the sun's rays become more active, and the plants are not yet ready for new conditions.

“Every vegetable has its own time,” and every plant has its own optimal time for planting. Anyone who has dealt with planting is well aware that the hot season for planting is spring and autumn. This is due to several factors: in the spring the plants have not yet begun to grow rapidly, there is no sweltering heat and precipitation often falls. However, no matter how hard we try, circumstances often develop such that planting has to be carried out in the midst of summer.

Chili con carne translated from Spanish means chili with meat. This is a Texas and Mexican dish whose main ingredients are chili peppers and shredded beef. In addition to the main products there are onions, carrots, tomatoes, and beans. This red lentil chili recipe is delicious! The dish is fiery, scalding, very filling and amazingly tasty! You can make a big pot, put it in containers and freeze - you'll have a delicious dinner for a whole week.

Cucumber is one of the most favorite garden crops of our summer residents. However, not all and not always gardeners manage to get a really good harvest. And although growing cucumbers requires regular attention and care, there is a little secret that will significantly increase their yield. We are talking about pinching cucumbers. Why, how and when to pinch cucumbers, we will tell you in the article. An important point in the agricultural technology of cucumbers is their formation, or type of growth.

Now every gardener has the opportunity to grow absolutely environmentally friendly, healthy fruits and vegetables in their own garden. Atlant microbiological fertilizer will help with this. It contains helper bacteria that settle in the root system area and begin to work for the benefit of the plant, allowing it to actively grow, remain healthy and produce high yields. Typically, many microorganisms coexist around the root system of plants.

Summer is associated with beautiful flowers. Both in the garden and in the rooms you want to admire the luxurious inflorescences and touching flowers. And for this it is not at all necessary to use cut bouquets. The assortment of the best indoor plants includes many beautifully flowering species. In the summer, when they receive the brightest lighting and optimal daylight hours, they can outshine any bouquet. Short-lived or just annual crops also look like living bouquets.

An extremely bright and, surprisingly, extremely unpretentious plant is the oriental poppy. However, we are not so rarely asked questions about growing and caring for this plant.

The title photo shows the Patty’s Plum variety.

Oriental poppy is a perennial. The bush is quite large, up to 1 meter high, but the height depends on the variety. The stems are strong, powerful, bristly, straight. The leaves are well recognizable, with an expressive predatory indented edge (pinnately scattered), of two types, the basal leaves are larger, and the stem leaves are slightly smaller. The flowers are located on the stems one at a time, large, up to 18-20 cm in diameter. The classic color is fiery red with a black spot at the base.

Today, the colors are varied: from classic red to various shades of pink, peach, and raspberry. Colors atypical for poppies (that is, everything except bright red) due to the papery, fragile structure of the petals are distinguished by their originality. They have a light dirty brownish-gray undertone, which makes the appearance of the flowers a little alarming and dramatic.

Flowering period not long - about 2 weeks. Flowers begin to appear at the end of May. The short flowering period and fragility of flowers are compensated by abundance and brightness. Possible re-blooming in autumn.

Types and varieties

There are a lot of plant varieties (see photo below). As for the species, the oriental or little-leaved maca (Papaver orientale) is one of more than 50 species of the genus Poppy. Another popular garden representative of the genus, the peony poppy, is Papaver paeoniflorum. Oriental poppy is a perennial. Height - 40-90 cm. In nature, this is a typical meadow plant, occasionally found on rocky soils of hills.

The bush of the plant is powerful and also highly decorative; unfortunately, it begins to lose its appearance after the buds fade.

Variety Miss Piggy

Fancy Feathers variety

Two varieties: Beauty of Livermore and Raspberry Queen.

Princess Victoria Louise

Princess Victoria Louise

Papaver orientale Picotee

Little Dancing Girl

A very rare and incredible Danebrog variety. The variety is not commercial, it is rather a sample of what this plant is generally capable of.

Planting and care

Like all other poppies, the oriental beauty prefers a sunny place. It can grow and bloom well in the shade and tolerate periodic droughts (although this is undesirable for varietal plants).

Almost any soil, the only exception is that poppies do not tolerate increased dampness and stagnant water, so care should be taken to ensure good drainage. Plants are planted at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. Although mature bushes are quite voluminous, the distance for some varieties should be increased to half a meter.

The only care required is watering, moderate fertilizing with mineral fertilizers, and shelter for the winter. Despite its cold resistance, the plant is not immune to severe frosts and can freeze out in severe winters.

Reproduction

The plant reproduces in three ways:

1. Seeds.
2. Dividing the bush.
3. Root shoots. They are taken in May, before flowering, or after flowering.

Doesn't like transplants and has a hard time with it. Although replanting in the fall with a clod of soil is acceptable, especially since the oriental poppy feels good in one place for a maximum of 7 years, then a rejuvenating replanting is necessary.

As a rule, planting material on sale is packaged rhizome cuttings; they can be of different sizes, so the cost can vary greatly. They are quite fragile and can be easily damaged during transportation, so you should inspect the purchased material very carefully, cut out all damaged areas, and treat the sections with crushed activated carbon. Before planting, the purchased rhizome should be wrapped in moss, leaving the growth buds free, slightly moistened and stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of no more than 4 ° C. They are planted in open ground when sprouts appear; if it is too early to plant outside, they should be planted in suitable containers, making sure that the roots are located without bends and the temperature near the plant does not exceed +12 ° C. A bright, cold balcony will do.

Where can I buy

As for seeds, they can be purchased at any store, although the choice of varieties is not so large.

Varietal perennial oriental poppies are sold mainly by rhizomes. Most often these are plants produced in Holland. The table below shows where you can buy oriental poppy.

Sowing and growing from seeds

Sowing is possible in spring or before winter. In the second case, flowers will appear the next year, but earlier than those of plants planted the following spring. Purchased or collected seeds (wrap the seed pods with gauze so that the seeds ripen, but do not spill out) are sown in open ground superficially, almost without deepening. It is enough to lightly crush or press the soil and cover it with covering material. The seeds are small - you can pre-mix them with sand.

It would be a mistake to bury the seeds; the seedlings may not have enough strength to get to the surface.

The seedling method is rarely used. If you decide to grow a plant in seedlings, keep in mind that plants require coolness, plenty of light, and extreme caution when transplanting. Otherwise there shouldn't be any difficulties.

Sowing seeds in the ground in spring is carried out early, before the onset of stable heat; the plant tolerates cold well and even needs stratification.

Young plants require careful, moderate watering.

Diseases and problems

Poppies often affect:

1. Powdery mildew.
2. Black spot.

The plant is relieved of these diseases by spraying with preparations containing copper (copper sulfate, Maxim or Topaz fungicides, copper sulfate). Severely affected plant parts are removed and burned.

To prolong flowering, cut off the seed heads without allowing the seeds to ripen.

Why doesn't poppy bloom?

There are not many reasons; in general, this plant willingly pleases with flowers without much effort. If there are still no flowers, then most likely:

1. The deadline has not arrived (plants grown from seeds can only bloom for 2 or 3 years).
2. The place chosen for planting is too shaded.
3. The roots of the plant are damaged (they are fragile, and can easily be damaged by active loosening).

After flowering, the poppy is cut off, the stems and leaves are shortened almost to the ground, and by autumn new, albeit smaller, leaves will grow. If there is a desire to collect seeds, then pruning is postponed until the seeds ripen.

Application in landscape design

Light varieties of poppies look unique, ghostly and mystical; white ones would be appropriate in “moon gardens.”

They go well with flowers of lilac shades, such as irises.

The plant is almost universal, its only serious drawback is the short flowering period and the fragility of the flowers. The latter does not prevent the plant from being popular for cutting - the bright appearance of the oriental poppy outweighs this drawback. In addition to bouquets, it will be good:

cereals,

daylilies,

geranium,

bloodroot.

And also poppy looks great with summer flowers:

• cosmea,
• decorative tobacco,
• kochia.

Poppy can often be seen on the eastern or western side of houses, that is, in partial shade. It really is one of those rare plants that can add bright colors to a slightly shaded area.

Oriental poppy pruning

Video from the blog “Vegetable garden for pleasure!” The author not only talks about pruning perennial poppies, but also gives almost professional answers to viewers’ questions in the comments.

Plant poppy (lat. Papaver) belongs to the genus of herbaceous plants of the Poppy family, in which there are more than a hundred species originating from Australia, Central and Southern Europe and Asia. Representatives of the genus are found in areas with subtropical, temperate and even cold climates. They grow in arid places - steppes, deserts and semi-deserts, on dry and rocky slopes. In culture, the poppy flower is grown not only as an ornamental, but also as a medicinal plant. In some countries, the cultivation of poppy is prohibited due to the fact that many of its species contain a narcotic substance, while other countries grow poppy on an industrial scale for the same reason: opium is obtained from its unripe pods, which is a raw material for the production of sleeping pills and painkillers.

The poppy was known as a medicinal plant in Ancient Rome: the hypnotic effect of opium was already studied then. They write that the scientific name of poppy is derived from the Latin word papa, which means father: Poppy seeds were allegedly added to their food to calm crying children.

In the Middle Ages, in the Muslim countries of Asia Minor, where drinking alcohol was prohibited, people indulged in smoking opium. Gradually, this vicious tradition spread further to the east, and China became the largest consumer of opium. In 1820, the government of this country banned the import of intoxicating poison, but, having lost in the “opium” war to England, which received huge profits from the supply of this product, it was forced to allow the import of opium again. Today, sleeping pills are grown in China, India, Afghanistan, Central and Asia Minor. And decorative poppy and its hybrids have gained enormous popularity in garden culture. Poppy in a flower bed, rock garden or mixborder is a fairly common occurrence, especially since even a child can plant poppies and care for them.

Planting and caring for poppies (in brief)

• Bloom: for three weeks in May-June.
• Landing: sowing seeds in open ground - in the fall or at the end of winter, but if the seeds are subjected to stratification, then sowing can be done in April.
• Lighting: bright sunlight.
• The soil: fertile, loose, well drained.
• Watering: only during periods of prolonged drought.
• Feeding: not required.
• Reproduction: seed.
• Pests: wireworms, chafers, poppy root weevils (weevils), aphids, thrips.
• Diseases: powdery mildew, peronosporosis (downy mildew).
• Properties: Opium poppy has healing properties and is a raw material for such potent drugs as codeine, morphine, papaverine, narcein, and narcotine.

Read more about growing poppies below.

Poppy flower - description

Poppies are annual, biennial and perennial rhizomatous herbaceous plants. The poppy root has a tap root, going deep into the ground, and the suction roots located on the periphery are easily broken off during transplantation. The stems of the poppy are straight and strong, bare or pubescent, the leaves are alternate or opposite, entire or pinnately dissected, most often covered with hairy-bristly pubescence. Regular apical flowers with numerous stamens, located on long and strong peduncles, usually solitary, but in some species they are collected in paniculate inflorescences. The petals of the flowers are large, whole, colored red, orange, yellow, pink, salmon or white.

The poppy fruit is a club-shaped capsule with seeds, “clogged” with a convex or flat disk. When ripe, the capsule bursts and the seeds are thrown out a considerable distance. Poppy seeds remain viable for 3 to 4 years.

Growing poppies from seeds: planting poppies in open ground

The seedling method for growing annual poppy is not used, since the seeds germinate well when sown directly in open ground. In addition, poppy seedlings are unlikely to survive transplanting. Perennial poppy is sometimes grown through seedlings, and when the seedlings have formed the first pair of true leaves, they are planted in a permanent place.

When to plant poppy

Poppy seeds sold in stores, online or garden pavilions, as a rule, do not require pre-sowing preparation, but personally collected seeds will require preliminary stratification, for which purpose they are sown in the ground in areas with mild winters in the fall or at the end of winter, with the goal of freezing them seeds in cold soil. If you intend to sow poppies in later spring, you will have to keep them for two months in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator for stratification, and only then sow. Unstratified seeds germinate poorly, and seedlings from them grow and develop very slowly.

How to plant poppies in the garden

Almost all types and varieties of poppy prefer to grow in sunny areas. As for the composition of the soil, each of them has their own preferences. If you are growing a variety that grows well in infertile soil, you are lucky: you do not have to prepare the area for the crop in advance. But if your poppies require fertile soil, dig up the area with bone meal or compost.

Before sowing, it is better to mix poppy seeds with fine sand in a ratio of 1:10. Sowing is carried out on the surface of soil loosened to a depth of 3 cm, after which the seeds are only lightly sprinkled with soil. There is no need to sow poppies in rows as the seeds are unlikely to stay where you place them. The area with crops should be kept moderately moist. When sprouts appear, and this will happen in 8-10 days during spring sowing, thin them out so that each flower has a small space for growth and nutrition - from 15 to 20 cm. Flowering will occur in 3-3.5 months from the moment sowing and will last 4-6 weeks.

Caring for poppies in the garden

How to grow poppy

Growing poppy and caring for it is not burdensome: water the plant only during severe, prolonged drought. After watering, the soil is loosened between the poppies so that a crust does not form, and weeds are removed, and if you cover the area with mulch, you will have to water, loosen, and weed much less often.

Poppies in open ground are very responsive to fertilizing, although they are not necessary. Sometimes you have to treat poppy seeds for diseases or pests, but such troubles rarely happen.

Pests and diseases of poppy

Due to unfavorable weather conditions, poppies are affected by diseases such as powdery mildew, peronospora (downy mildew), Alternaria and Fusarium.

Poppy after flowering

The annual poppy is simply destroyed after the flowers fade, but if you want to prolong flowering, remove the seed pods as soon as they begin to form. If you do not trim the seeds, then next spring seedlings from self-seeding will appear in this place. In autumn, the area is cleared of poppy plant residues and dug up.

After flowering, perennial poppy loses its decorative effect, and its ground part is cut off at surface level. Perennial poppy species and varieties do not need shelter for the winter, but if you are afraid of a frosty and snowless winter, cover the area with poppy with dry leaves or spruce branches: this will not make the poppy any worse.

Types and varieties of poppy

As you already know, both annual and perennial poppy species are grown in culture. Among annuals the most popular are:

Or Saffron poppy (Papaver croceum) - a perennial grown as an annual crop, native to Eastern Siberia, Altai, Central Asia and Mongolia. The height of the plant's stems reaches 30 cm, its leaves are basal, pinnate, greenish or grayish, hairy or bare. Flowers with a diameter of 2.5 to 5 cm on strong pedicels 15-20 cm long can be white, yellow or orange. Flowering lasts from May to October. All parts of this plant are poisonous! The saffron poppy has several varieties that bloom from late spring to late autumn:

• Popscale– an elegant compact variety up to 25 cm high with durable, wind-resistant peduncles and bright flowers up to 10 cm in diameter;
• Cardinal– a bush up to 40 cm high with scarlet flowers up to 6 cm in diameter;
• Sulfureum– a variety up to 30 cm high with lemon-yellow flowers up to 6 cm in diameter;
• Atlant– poppy up to 20 cm high with yellow or white flowers with a diameter of about 5 cm;
• Roseum– poppy up to 40 cm high with pink flowers 6 cm in diameter.

Comes from central Russia, western and Central Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia Minor. It has erect, branching and spreading stems from 30 to 60 cm in height. Its basal leaves are large, pinnately divided and serrated, and its stem leaves are tripartite with pinnately dissected lobes. Both the stems and leaves of the self-seeding tree are covered with coarse hairs. The single or double flowers, 5 to 7 cm in diameter, can be red, pink, white or salmon with a dark or white edge and a dark spot at the base of the petals. This species has been in culture since 1596. Numerous garden forms and varieties of self-seeding are used in gardening. For example:

• Shirley– garden form up to 75 cm high with graceful flowers of light colors with white stamens;
• Silk moire- a variety with semi-double flowers, the petals of which are colored at the edges in a rich tone, and in the center - in a more delicate shade of the same color.

Or opium poppy grows wild in the Mediterranean. Its stems are up to 1 m high, erect, slightly branched, bluish-green with a waxy coating. The basal leaves are oblong, and the stem leaves are elliptical, with the upper ones being bluish-green, triangular, sometimes curly. Simple or double single flowers with a diameter of 9-10 cm of white, red, pink, purple, lilac or lilac, sometimes with dark or white spots at the base of the petals, are located on long peduncles. Flowers that bloom in the morning fall off in the evening. Flowering lasts 3-4 weeks. The species has been in culture since 1597. Popular varieties of the species are:

• Danish flag- poppy up to 75 cm high. The name was given because of the unusual color: a white cross on a red background of petals fringed along the edges. The plant looks attractive even after flowering due to its spectacular seed pods;
• Cheerful family- a poppy that forms an original seed capsule, similar to a hen with chicks. This variety is used for making winter bouquets.

Peony-shaped varieties of opium poppy are also popular:

• White cloud– huge snow-white inflorescences on stable peduncles up to 1 m high;
• yellow cloud– a variety with large golden inflorescences of amazing beauty;
• Black cloud– a plant with caps of double inflorescences of a very dark purple color;
• Cartroza– a branched bush with a height of 70 to 90 cm. The flowers are double, pale pink, 9-10 cm in diameter, with a white spot at the base of the petals;
• Schneebal– a medium-branched bush up to 80 cm high with double white flowers up to 11 cm in diameter with jagged edges of the inner petals;
• Zwerg Rosenrot– a plant 40-60 cm high. The flowers are double, pink-red, up to 10 cm in diameter, with oval petals and a white spot at the center. The inner petals have fringed edges.

Among the annual species in cultivation, you can also find peacock and dove poppies.

Perennial poppies are represented in our gardens mainly by oriental poppy, a herbaceous plant native to Asia Minor and Southern Transcaucasia. The stems of the oriental poppy are straight, strong, thick and bristly, 80-100 cm high. The basal leaves are pinnately dissected, up to 30 cm long, the stem leaves are slightly smaller and shorter. Single flowers up to 18 cm in diameter are painted in a fiery red hue, and at the base of the petals there is a black spot. The flowering of the oriental poppy lasts no more than two weeks, but during this period the plant is very attractive to bees with its dark purple pollen. The species has been in cultivation since 1700. Among gardeners, the variety mixture of oriental poppy Pizzicato is popular - resistant plants up to 50 cm high in lilac, white, pink and various shades of red and orange. The following varieties are also of interest:

• Beauty Queen– a plant 90 cm high with saucer-shaped silky flowers;
• Black and White– a variety about 80 cm high with white flowers with a black spot at the base of the corrugated petals;
• Blue Moon- a plant with peduncles up to 100 cm high, on which pink flowers open with a diameter of up to 25 cm, the petals of which have a blue tint;
• Cedric Morris– a variety about 80 cm high with very large pale pink flowers with a black spot at the base of the corrugated petals;
• Kerlilock- a plant up to 70 cm high with slightly drooping orange flowers. At the base of the petals, serrated along the edges, there is a black spot;
• Allegro– a variety of perennial poppy up to 40 cm high, blooming with luxurious large flowers already in the year of sowing.

In addition to those described, the oriental poppy varieties Garden Glory, Glowing Embers, Mrs. Perry, Carin, Kleine Tangerine, Marcus Perry, Pettis Plum, Perris White, Piccotti, Sultan, Terkenloui, Terkish Delight and others are popular among gardeners.

Such types of perennial poppy as Alpine, Amur, Atlantic, white-pink, or mountain, Burtsera, Lapland, Miyabe, Scandinavian, bract, Tatra and Tien Shan are also cultivated, but all of them are inferior to oriental poppy in decorativeness.

Properties of poppy seeds - harm and benefit

Useful properties of poppy

The properties of the opium poppy were discovered in ancient times: a drink made from its seeds was used as an analgesic and sleeping pill. Poppy was popular in Ancient Greece: myths say that the seeds of this plant were carried with them by the deity of sleep Hypnos and the god of dreams Morpheus, as well as the goddess of fertility Hera. In Europe, during the reign of Charlemagne, poppy was so highly valued that peasants had to hand over 26 liters of poppy seeds to the state. Poppy was used to treat the sick, and it was given to children to help them sleep better. And no one suspected that poppy was not so safe until, in the 16th century, the physician and botanist Jacob Theodorus published the book “Poppy Seed Juice,” in which he described not only the beneficial properties of poppy, but also the harm that it can cause. cause.

The composition of poppy seeds includes fat, sugars and proteins, vitamins E, PP, elements cobalt, copper, zinc, phosphorus, iron and sulfur, and the petals contain fatty oil, vitamin C, alkaloids, glycosides, anthocyanins, flavonoids, organic acids and gum . Poppy oil is one of the most valuable vegetable oils. It is used to make paints and cosmetics.

Blue poppy seeds are used as an expectorant; poppy decoction relieves toothache and ear pain. Preparations made from poppy seeds are prescribed for liver diseases, insomnia, stomach catarrh, pneumonia, and hemorrhoids. A decoction of poppy roots treats inflammation of the sciatic nerve and migraines; a decoction of poppy seeds improves digestion. Poppy helps reduce sweating, cope with diarrhea and dysentery, and relieve bladder inflammation. The pharmacological industry produces such potent drugs from poppy as codeine, morphine, papaverine, narcein, narcotine, but before you start using these drugs, you should definitely consult your doctor.

Back

Forward

After this article they usually read

WikiHow works like a wiki, which means that many of our articles are written by multiple authors. During the creation of this article, 9 people, including anonymously, worked to edit and improve it.

Graceful and fragile poppies will decorate any garden. Growing them from seeds requires patience and effort, but the results are worth it. Prepare the soil, sow the seeds and provide proper care, and let these wonderful flowers illuminate your garden with their bright colors.

Attention: in Russia forbidden cultivation of poppy species containing narcotic substances. These include soporific poppy (Papaver somniferum L.), bristlecone poppy (Papaver setigerum D.C.), bract poppy (Papaver bracteatum Lindl.), oriental poppy (Papaver orientale L.). However, even harmless varieties can attract the attention of law enforcement agencies to your garden, because only a specialist can recognize them by appearance, and the presence of more than 10 prohibited plants on the site is considered cultivation on a particularly large scale. So, if you live in Russia, then perhaps it is better not to risk it.

Steps

Part 1

Preparing to plant seeds

Choose poppy varieties. There are different varieties of poppy and similar plants that do not contain narcotic substances. As a rule, “good” poppies have small seed pods (forbidden varieties have larger seed pods, 2–5 cm). All poppy varieties have colorful, paper-like petals and tend to be more suitable for natural-style flower beds than geometric beds. Choose the variety that is best suited to grow in your region and the conditions in your garden.

• The poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is the most famous of the annual species. It blooms from June through fall and is beautiful in the lawn on its own or with other wildflowers such as daisies and cornflowers.
• Changed poppy (Papaver commutatum) and peacock poppy (Papaver pavonium) are less popular but no less attractive annuals.
• Holostem poppy (Papaver nudicaule) is a perennial plant that blooms from May to late autumn. Depending on the variety, it can be simple or double, white, yellow or orange. A multi-colored mixture in one flowerbed looks especially impressive.
• California poppy, or Eschscholzia californica, is not a poppy as such, but an independent genus in the poppy family, so you can safely plant it in your garden. Eschscholzia is drought-resistant, easily propagated by self-sowing, and its golden and orange flowers will delight you for many years.

1. Buy seeds. Poppies do not tolerate transplanting, so you will need to buy seeds rather than seedlings. Seeds can be purchased at a gardening store or online. Look for reviews of supplier companies or ask gardeners you know to settle on a reliable brand: such seeds are more likely to sprout and take root.

   Determine where to plant poppies. Most poppies grow best in well-lit areas, so you can plant them in any area that is not too shaded. You can plant them as a border along a garden path, in a flower bed, on the lawn or in a box outside a window. Make sure the soil quality in the chosen location is suitable for your poppies.

   • If you choose a variety that grows well in poor soil, great: you won't have to add anything to the soil to prepare it. Many poppies grow well even on rocky soil, where other flowers do not take root.
   • If your poppy species requires fertile soil, loosen the soil and mix it with enriched compost or bone meal to give your poppies the nutrients they need to grow and bloom well.

   Part 2

   Sowing seeds and caring for poppies

   1. Plant seeds in spring or fall. Poppy seeds require a period of stratification to germinate. This means they need to survive cold or frost to germinate. As a rule, poppy seeds are sown in early spring, while there is a high risk of frost. If you live in the South and have mild winters, sow the seeds in the fall to expose them to cooler temperatures until spring. After 14–28 days, the seeds will begin to germinate.

      Loosen the soil where you plan to sow. Poppy seeds are sown on the surface rather than buried in holes. To prepare the soil, simply loosen the surface lightly with a rake. There is no need to loosen the soil to a depth of more than 3 cm. On the contrary, if the seeds are deep in the ground, they will have difficulty growing.

      Sow the seeds. Sprinkle the seeds onto freshly loosened soil. In nature, small poppy seeds fall to the ground and are easily blown away by the wind. You, too, do not try to sow poppies in even rows, but scatter the seeds and let them grow as they are. All the same, you will not be able to fix a small seed at a certain point.

      Water the seeds. Keep the soil moist by misting it with water. However, do not flood the soil, otherwise the small poppy seeds may “drown”. The seedlings will germinate in the spring when the weather becomes warm.