Forum home› Wildlife gardening

Poppy Fields

TootlesTootles Posts: 1,469
in Wildlife gardening

Hello - have driven past some stunning red fields full of poppies recently and was wondering, are these planted for a particular purpose, or are they self seeded?  Absolutely beautiful to look at and was curious as to how / why they are there.  Anyone know? 

«13

Posts

  • little-annlittle-ann Posts: 878

    Poppy seeds are viable for hundreds of years i understand, when the land is cultivated they germinate.

  • hypercharleyfarleyhypercharleyfarley Posts: 343

    I saw an amazing field-full of red poppies in Norfolk last week!  There's a connection between Little Ann's post and the fact that our national flower emblem for remembering those who died fighting for their country during world wars is a red poppy. I believe it's because those fields in France which had been devastated by the WW1 trenches were covered in red poppies in later years - the trenches etc disturbed land which had been uncultivated previously, and the poppy seeds had been thrown up by the digging.

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Derbyshire but with a Nottinghamshire postcode. Posts: 16,461

    Inorganic farmers spray to kill off weeds (poppies etc ) in their wheat crop.

    Organic farmers don't. so they end up with a lot of red poppies there, and they have to sort the seed more. Thats why organic stuff is more expensive.

  • Woodgreen wonderboyWoodgreen wonderboy Posts: 2,322

    FB, yields are also lower and the customer prefers to pay more!!image

  • Gardening GrandmaGardening Grandma Posts: 1,746

    I presume some are cultivated for poppy seeds, too? I love these in bread and cakes.

  • flowering roseflowering rose Posts: 1,632

    poppies will grow in perfusion in any field that is not sprayed with insecticide.They look wonderful.

  • Outdoor girlOutdoor girl Posts: 286

    I heard on GQT (I think...) that many people  - not sure who - are planning to sow lots of poppy fields in remembrance of 1914 next year. I think it is a good idea and will try something in my plot.

  • KoalagirlKoalagirl Posts: 225

    I sowed a packet of wild flower seeds in a trough in my garden in spring and now have lots of lovely red poppies.  I've tried sowing small patches of wild flowers as a mini flower meadow before but it never worked very well.  The trough is much better and has pride of place on my path.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 82,129
    flowering rose wrote (see)

    poppies will grow in perfusion in any field that is not sprayed with insecticide.They look wonderful.

    Think you meant herbicide image 

    Norfolk is famous for its poppies -there is an area known as Poppyland http://www.literarynorfolk.co.uk/poppyland.htm. 

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,248
    Outdoor girl wrote (see)

    I heard on GQT (I think...) that many people  - not sure who - are planning to sow lots of poppy fields in remembrance of 1914 next year. I think it is a good idea and will try something in my plot.

    Great idea. Might do the same myself. Do they need to be sown in autumn so they receive the winter chill for them to germinate?

Sign In or Register to comment.