W In A To Z Poppies

The letter W in A to Z poppies stands for where and when, where poppies grow and when they flower, this is something that is important to every gardener that has thought about planting poppies.

The where is easy, there are poppy species that are native to many locations and there are ones that even when not native in a location can often still be grown there with the proper soil conditions, sunlight and watering. Many poppies that grow in a warm climate can be grown in a colder climate when the seeds are planted after the threat of heavy frost is over. There are also flowers that do not do well in hot climates, but if they are planted in a partially shaded area they do well as long as a sprinkler is used when temperatures climb.

There is only one genus of the Papaveraceae family that does not have a where in most countries and that is the Papaver somniferum, which is illegal in most countries to grow and that is because this is the opium poppy.

When is a question gardeners ask, when to plant and with many poppies they can be planted in the fall or the spring. If they are planted in the fall they will winter in the ground and as the ground thaws and warms the seeds will begin to germinate and that gives them an earlier start which means a longer blooming season.