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Meconopsis Betonicifolia

Stevo4Stevo4 Posts: 109

I like a challenge, so when I heard Himalayan Blue  Poppies were among the most difficult to grow, I had to try. When I received the seeds there were no instructions about what to do next and nothing in the gardening tomes that I have. I already knew that these are acid and shade lovers but that was the limit of my knowledge. To cut a long story...so far I have 15 excellent small plants in pots after 18 months of worry, stress and pride (which always comes before a fall). The planting area is prepared and ready.

The question is: When to plant out?image

 

Posts

  • Stevo4Stevo4 Posts: 109

    Thank you Verdun. I hope he reads this. image

  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,353

    Hi Stevo

    They are very hardy, so as soon as this really cold spell has gone, they can go out.

    They like cool, semi shaded, moist conditions.

    I tend to add a fair bit of leaf mould to the planting soil.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Stevo4Stevo4 Posts: 109

    punkdoc, thank goodness u r there!

    I wondered if the weather would cause a problem but I was tending to think that 'well they are 'Himalayan' and must be genetically hardy to frost', but I wasn't sure and I love them so much that I didn't want to take a risk. I have loads of leaf mould too which I will now add to the bed.

    Somewhere in my mind I'm sure that I read that Alan Titchmarsh once wrote, "you have arrived as a gardener if u can grow Himalayan blue poppies."..sounds Alan-ish to me.image

    image U put mind at rest, many thx.

     

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