Combining bulbs with poppy seeds

Marsheee

Hello,

I’m having trouble finding the answer I need on Google. 

I’m currently re-organising and creating my garden border for the first time. I’m a beginner gardener, so I’m learning a lot as I go but cannot find the answer to whether or not I should plant poppy seeds over the top of my bulbs (tulips, muscari and alliums)?

When I plant the bulbs, can I sprinkle the poppy seeds over the top? Or do I need to mark where the bulbs are and sprinkle around them, avoiding the bulbs? (Which would be very tricky!) 

I like the idea of the poppies taking place of the tulips and flowering alongside the alliums. 

fidgetbones

Sprinkle away. You will need to thin them to a few inches apart to get a good show, but the bulbs should be up by then.

Marsheee

@fidgetbones brill thank you. I wasn’t sure when the poppies would start taking up the growing space, so I was thinking they might develop roots early on that would hinder the bulbs growing / flowering phase, by the sounds of it that’s not the case? 

fidgetbones

My bulbs come up through forget me nots. I may relocate a plant or two, but generally they self scatter all over the place. The bulbs force through. Daffs flower while the forget me nots are small. Then they grow and the tulips are surrounded by a sea of blue, then I pull out all the forget me nots before I put my summer bedding in all the gaps.

Fairygirl

I wouldn't worry too much either - bulbs can cope with almost anything, which is why they are great planted with perennials too. 
The only drawback I can see is if the soil is quite rich, which some poppies don't like, but you'll soon see if that's the case, because  they'll either start germinating well enough or they won't. If they don't, you can always try them elsewhere.

Marsheee

Thanks Guys,
Bulbs all planted, seeding commencing 2mo! Fingers crossed the hard work pays off 🤞🏻. 😅

the enduring gardener

Monty Donn always goes on about planting wallflowers with tulips - something I might try. I love this about gardening - just as it's getting darker and colder - plans are afoot for the new season.

Dovefromabove

Wallflowers with tulips is a wonderful combination ... a traditional cottage garden pairing ... add forget-me-nots and it’s magical 😎 

 
 

Fishy65

I've sown Welsh Poppy seeds over snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils 

Buttercupdays

Love Welsh poppies, they're endemic here, pop up everywhere. I have both orange and yellow and they are still giving the odd flower here and there, a real cheery note in the November gloom