Grow Your Own Magazine

Sorry if this has already been covered, but I just wondered how I go about collecting the seeds from my poppys? The flowers died off about a week or two ago, but the seed heads still look fairly green. Do I wait for them to dry out and turn brown, or is it ok to cut the stems down now? The bed where they grow is looking a bit untidy so I'm keen to get it cleared and re-planted with some colour for the rest of the summer, but I'd also like to save the seeds from my poppys as they were really lovely this year.

Wait for them to go brown then tie a paper bag over them as the seed head bursts,and collect seeds once the pods have burst.Mr Brown Thumb: When I Collect Poppy Seeds

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The greatness comes not when things go always good for you,but the greatness comes when you are really tested,when you take,some knocks,some disappointments;because only if youv'e been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.

Just like Cloud says.
I'm trying to weed out all my insipid mauve ones, and just keeping the dark pinks and reds for seed.

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Could be worse..........could be mister brown nose!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

That's all very well but I have over 100 seed heads I usually wait till the little holes appear in the top of the heads & then harvest the seeds(I still have half a jam jar from last year)

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I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.
W. C. Fields

I have just been given a load of poppy seeds from my friend. The poppies I have growing in the garden, when the pod is ready I just give them a shake over the soil. However, with these new seeds, do you think I should shake them now over the part where I want a wildlife garden in amongst the grass, or should I wait until next spring to forcast them?

the poppy seed packet i have says sow in september for flowering next july august, or plant mid march/may for flowering mid july/september.

but if you have seeds now then it must be ok to sow them now, nature knows best

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Thanks for the info Lynda66...the next question is, when is everyone else sowing their poppy seeds? I want to go along with the crowd !!!

Poppy seeds can remain dormant for a few years and germinate better on newly tilled ground.

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I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.
W. C. Fields