California Poppy Mix

Seed Count: Approx. 200 seeds

Days to Maturity: Perennial

Description: Have a little bit of everything with this California poppy mix, and fill your garden with a vibrant mix of orange, yellow, red, pink, and white hues.  These cute flowers flutter around on olive green foliage, and tend to open and close with the sun.  While the California poppy isn't a true poppy, it gives off the same look and vibe, and are perfect to attract pollinators.  They'll blossom from the spring straight through the summer, if conditions are cool.  Once plants are established, they can be pretty heat and drought tolerant as well. You can use this variety to fill gaps in your garden bed, and they do well grown as container plants too!  This dainty flower can even be used to make a cute cut flower bouquet.  California poppies grow as a perennial in warmer areas, and readily re-seed themselves in colder zones.  Brighten up your garden space, and grow your pollinator garden with this cute poppy mix.  

How To Grow

Sowing:  To grow poppy seeds, direct sow your seeds, when soil reaches between 60-65 degrees, just below the surface, about 1/4" deep, keeping the soil lightly moist until germination.  Seeds can take 2-3 weeks to germinate.  In zones 7 and warmer, your seeds can be fall planted.   Poppies do not transplant well, but if you do wish to start them indoors, make sure to transplant them, while the plants are still small. 

Growing:  Water seedlings regularly, until they become established; once mature, decrease waterings.  Mature poppy plants tolerate drought, and really don't need to be watered, except in extremely dry conditions.  It does well in most soil types, as long as it is well draining.  They can even adapt to seaside conditions.  In fact, this plant blooms best in poor soil, and doesn't require soil that is nutrient rich.  Cut off spent flowers, to keep this plant blooming.  Poppies prefer cooler weather to bloom, and will go dormant, once the summer heat rolls in.  While poppies are an annual in colder climates, it readily reseeds itself to produce beautiful blooms season after season.  This plant is great for attracting butterflies and bees. 

Harvesting:  To harvest cut flowers, choose stems with flowers that have just started to open, and cut them in the morning when moisture is at its peak.  Strip away any foliage that will fall below water level.  Sear the cut end with boiling water, or a match, and immediately place them in a container with cold water.  If you wish to save seeds, keep in mind that they may revert back to their dominant orange and red blooms.  After the petals drop off, a capsule will form, and it will turn from green to tan.  Once dry, the seed heads will explode and spread the seeds, so you should cut them off before hand, or tie a mesh bag around them to catch the seeds.  Once the seeds turn a grey-black color, spread the capsules out to dry, then split them, and thresh out the seeds.  Store your clean seeds in a cool, dry place.