Organic Hens and Chicks Poppy

Organic Hens and Chicks Poppy

Planting Method: Transplant Recommended

For Transplanting: Sow 2 seeds / cell or soil block 5-8 weeks before final frost. Thin to 1 & transplant once 3 true leaves have emerged, up to 1 month before final frost.

To Direct Sow:  Sow in Spring (as early as soil can be worked) or in Fall since poppies love to establish in cool soils. Sow 8 seeds/foot and thin to 2/foot once true leaves emerge.

Seed Depth: Barely cover    Days to Germination: 7-21 in soil 45-65ºF

Sun Needs: Full/Part

Spacing (after thinning/transplanting): 6 inches

Days to Bloom: 48-55     Height: 30-36 inches

Poppies thrive in gardens as well as raised beds and containers, even in partial sun and marginal soil. A gently re-seeding annual, poppies often have a perennial presence in your garden, though establishing poppies from seed is often challenging. Enjoy our Secrets to Establishing Poppies blog!

For cut flowers, here’s the trick: harvest them just as their bud is about to break and sear the stem with a lighter. The blossom will continue to open and intriguingly, since their access to water has been cut off, the petals will be about 80% as large and the colors will be that much more vivid and concentrated. Cut poppies don’t have the vase-life that zinnias or sunflowers do, but this technique helps them hold their petals many days longer. And like so many vegetables, herbs and flowers, the more you harvest the more your plants will produce!