How To Grow California Poppies From Seed
California Poppies (Eschscholzia Californica) are wonderful silky flowers that bloom over a really long period with whimpsical ferny green foliage. These California wildflowers are extremely low maintenance, can tolerate light frost, are drought-tolerant, and can cope with poor soil. They can be sown from spring to early summer.
California Poppies are well known for their medicinal purposes. Its leaves and petals are used to help conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and nervous tension.
We have some new additions to our California poppy collection, including the absolutely stunning "Thai Silk Appleblossom" and "Thai Silk Pink Champagne."
These soft, neutral colours make them great for events and weddings.
If left to grow, they will readily self-seed but won't become a problem.
Germination Tips
- Germination will happen at around 14-21 days when the soil temperature is around 16-21 degrees.
- Direct sowing is recommended once all frost have past. Place the seeds where you want the flowers to grow, cover lightly with soil and firm down to keep the seeds in place. Water gently and keep moist throughout germination.
- If raising seedling, use the best quality seed raising mix. Fill punnets will soil and press seeds in place then cover lightly with soil. Bottom water or mist to avoid displacing the seeds. California Poppies don't like to have their roots disturbed. So when it's time to plant them in the garden take care.
Planting Tips
- Sow or plant in a full sun position.
- If sown direct then thin out so each plant is spaced 30cm apart. If transferring seedlings grown in the greenhouse. Plant out 30cm apart once the seedlings are around 6 weeks old,
- Once the plant is established then they do not need a lot of watering.
Harvesting Tips
- Although only growing too around 40cm high, California Poppies still make a great cut flower. Harvest when the flowers unopened, in their colour bud phase.
- They take around 60 days from seed to bloom.
