Meconopsis betonicifolia
steve howe
Posts: 55
in Plants
I've had two goes at establishing blue Meconopsis in my woodland area without success, the plants were bought as a batch from Parkers Wholesale identified as 'Blue Himalayan Poppy' without specifying a particular species. They flowered reasonably well in the first season, but failed to reappear the next year. The same happened with the second batch planted a year later. I have heard that these perennial poppies can have an annoying habit of behaving like biennials. Anyone had any experience of them or raising from seed?
Steve
0
Posts
Not easy to grow for us West Country folk, they grow best in Scotland, Alaska and cold areas like that.
they are best in acid soil, not sure about your Cornwall soil, have you tested it.
I've got some in S.Yorkshire thanks to Pdoc.
Mine are in an acid bed, in a damp area which is part shade. If they don't flower for a second year I will weep
I do have some plants (sown as soon as the seed was ready) to pot on, they appear fine in the GH even at -3.
Good luck I love them
Thanks for the tip on stopping them in the first year Verdun, I didn't know about that. The soil should be OK here being generally on the acid side of neutral and the woodland area has had loads of leafmould dug into it in recent years. I might bite the bullet and have one more go!
Steve
Do have a go Steve, I think it may be a warm but you can only try. Please keep us informed .
I have been growing them successfully for several years in S. Yorkshire.
Some of mine are 5 years old, although some also die before then.
I harvest seed every year, to cultivate new plants.
Seeds seem to need winter cold to germinate, plants need moist, semi shade, in a leaf mould enriched soil, preferably acid.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
I've only tried once raising them from seed, the seedtray went into the fridge for six weeks after which they came up within a couple of weeks like mustard & cress, then a snail got in and ate the lot overnight.....
tempted to have another go now with even wholesale prices around £21 for 10 roots it makes it worth the wait.
Don't worry too much about making the compost acid. Add leaf mould to the soil, and if you want a little ericaceous compost.
I sow the seeds in autumn, in a cold greenhouse.
I can't tell from the picture what those seedlings are, sorry.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Those seedlings do look like violets, I have the wild ones in the garden but can't get rid of it, the roots just cling to the soil. They choke everything, I suppose the species ones would be nice.
This is me mecanopsis paniculata I grew from seed last year they were put in a tray outside and took some time to germinate have come through the winter solar so good