Preparing the soil for Poppies

When preparing a garden for planting poppies the planting spot should be well turned and a rich soil as the poppy does not require fertilizing it will deplete the nutrition in the soil throughout the season. This is why the poppy garden should be prepared properly to enjoy the full benefit of the blooming season.

The soil should also be able to drain well, but stay moist and this does not mean wet as the seeds and even the roots of the flowers will die. They are also a hearty enough plant to survive in drought conditions, but will not bloom as often as they do under proper watering conditions. If the soil is prepared properly and a rich enough mix they will require little care after planting, if they are planted in poor soil conditions they could require fertilizing during the season.

Once the soil is properly prepared and the seeds will be sown, they should be sparsely dropped in their rows and lightly covered with soil. They should not be planted deeply giving them full advantage of the warmth of the sun to germinate, which for most of the Papaveraceae family takes seven to fourteen days.

When the soil conditions are rich and drain properly the seeds once established will grow and flower all season and return year after year. Many species of the Papaver family will return for as little as three years and can live to return season after season for up to twenty years.