Welsh poppy
Guernsey Donkey2
Posts: 6,713
in Plants
Has anyone grown the lovely little Welsh poppy from seed? I received some seeds in the post today - they are tiny and from the instructions it seems that they are difficult to grow - is this true and is it too late to sow them this year?
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I have loads. They just seed around. Howver some double flowered seed I got has not germinated at all. I think it is best if you get fresh seed and just scatter where you want it.
Someone down the road from me has an orange form, I just have the yellow form.
Last edited: 25 May 2016 20:31:06
from the way my garden is full of them I think they must be pretty easy. I'd sow them in gritty compost and leave them to get on with it. Don't apply any extra heat, they won't need that. Just leave them outside somewhere shady til they germinate, if they're something that needs a chill they might take til spring.
In the sticks near Peterborough
The true welsh variety of Meconopsis cambrica is difficult to grow, rarely found outside its normal range. The Welsh poppies found in peoples gardens including mine with mixed yellow and orange forms come from a natural varity in the Pyrenees.
Yes, Meconopsis Cambrica is the variety that I have received Invicta - the instructions say germination can take anything between 21 - 60 days and if after this length of time the seeds have not germinated to put them in the Fridge for 2 - 3 weeks. All the other poppies that I have grown have come from collected seeds which seems to germinate very, very easily. However it would be lovely to have a few Welsh poppies growing among them. I am tempted to just scatter them on the bare earth and see what if anything grows.
Scattering under shrubs and trees would be a good way to sow them
In the sticks near Peterborough
Yes, that is a good idea nutcutlet - I will try to do that tomorrow - after sorting my almond tree, cucumber pruning, etc. etc. luckily we have a few dry days forecast - there is always plenty of gardening jobs to be done at this time of year!
Lots of jobs GD, like pulling nettles and goosegrass
In the sticks near Peterborough
I have found that my yellow Welsh Poppies seed freely but the orange ones don't. I love the way that they take over from the daffodils with a punch of golden yellow just where and when it is needed. I am letting one part of my garden grow wild at the moment, around a new tiny wildlife pond and the poppies are a joy.
Hopefully I will have a similar problem next year Muddle-Up - yes they do look lovely in your picture - in the meantime I have Californian poppies coming into flower - and some huge red ones whose name escapes me just now - again collected seed and some have just naturally re-seeded from last year. If that is your garden now Esspee I can only assume that you live somewhere hot or have a very sheltered garden - it looks lovely and so natural too.
I live in the West of Scotland GD2. Here we rely on the gulf stream to save us from the cold. If you are near me I'd be happy to dig some seedlings up for you.