1. Are the newer varieties with unusual colors more challenging to grow than the older ones?
The newer varieties of Oriental poppies, including those of unusual colors, are, in general, more vigorous and more accessible to grow than most of the older introductions.
However, probably none is as challenging and fool-proof as the old-time, orange-colored single-flowered kind or the old double-flowered one called OLYMPIA.
2. When should Oriental poppies be planted? How deep?
Oriental poppies are best planted at the end of their dormant season, and just before new growth begins, that is in late August or early September, they can be safely moved as late as October.
Set the plants so that the top of the clump of roots is about 3 inches beneath the soil surface, slightly shallower in heavy than in light, sandy soil.
3. How should the soil be prepared before planting? Should I put in organic or inorganic fertilizer before planting?
One of the most critical needs of Oriental poppies is sharp drainage. Suppose there is any suspicion of waterlogging or stagnation. these plants soon “give up the ghost.” A quite moist place can be made suitable for the growth of poppies only by installing an adequate system of agricultural tile drains.
Most garden beds do not need such drastic measures. Ordinarily, turning the soil to the depth of a foot or more with a spade or fork and incorporating a reasonable amount of good compost, well-rotted manure, or other decayed organic matter together with bonemeal at the rate of half a pound to each square yard is sufficient.
4. How often should they be fertilized? What’s the best kind of fertilizer to use?
Oriental poppies do not require a great deal of fertilizing. A dressing of a 5-10-5 or 4-8-4 applied in early spring and very lightly cultivated into the surface, or a sauce of well-rotted manure and bonemeal lightly forked into the ground in spring is sufficient.
5. Can cut flowers be used in arrangements? Is there any special preparation?
Flowers of Oriental poppies can be cut for indoor use and will stand up in arrangements, provided the ends of the stems are charred slightly by holding them in a flame for a few seconds immediately after they are cut.
6. Last summer, my Oriental poppies died back. Is this a natural occurrence?
Immediately after the blooming season, Oriental poppies enter a period of dormancy that lasts until about late August. The leaves die down and, in the process, look considerably unsightly. The foliage should not be cut off until it is pretty brown.
7. What other plants can I plant with Oriental poppies?
Plants set near Oriental poppies should be kinds that are not so vigorous of root growth as to interfere with the poppies.
Such plants should be sufficiently high and spreading to conceal the gaps left when the poppies die down in midsummer. Among perennials, baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata) is one of the best.
8. How often should a clump be separated? What time of the year is best?
Oriental poppies resent root disturbance. When a clump is thriving and blooming well, do not dig it up unless you must move it or want to propagate from it.
However, as the chimps tend to spread and die out at their centers, lifting and separating every three or four years is often necessary. The latter half of August is the best time to attend to this.
9. I once read about propagating Oriental poppies by “root cuttings.” What are they, and how do I go about making my own?
Root cuttings, pieces of root as thick or thicker than a lead pencil and 4” to 6” inches long—give a simple way of securing young plants of Oriental poppies.
Plant these in August, vertically, thick end upwards and 3” inches beneath the surface, in a mixture of equal parts of soil, sand, and peat moss in a cold frame or a sheltered place in the garden; not where they must compete with the roots of trees.
Shrubs or other plants. Large seeds will flower the following summer; smaller roots may take two years.
10. Are there any Oriental poppies with two colors in flower? What are some excellent varieties?
There are bicolored-flowered Oriental poppies, but only a few varieties. They are SNOW FLAME. White with an orange edge and reported a relatively weak grower; CARNIVAL, white with a basal blotch of brown and an orange border (really a tricolor), a robust grower; Louise, white with a pink edge.
11. Last year, I noticed some Oriental poppies of deep mahogany color. What are the names of these varieties?
Among the best mahogany-colored Oriental poppies are MAHONEY, a kind not offered very often, and INDIAN CHIEF, which is very similar to MAHONEY. RASPBERRY QUEEN and JESSIE CURTIS are two of the very best.
A variety offered as CURTIS GIANT MULBERRY belongs here, but its flowers tend to blast in the bud stage in the dry central states.
12. Do Oriental poppies have to be planted in full sun, or will they stand some shade?
Oriental poppies thrive best in full sun, but they will tolerate a little shade for part of the day.
13. I know there are some watermelon-colored Oriental poppies. What are some of the better ones?
Several Oriental poppies have flowers in shades of watermelon pink. One of the oldest and one of the finest is WUNDERKIND. Unfortunately, it tends to be a weak grower and is often short-lived. MAY CURTIS, the deepest in this range of color, is lovely.
Other good ones are ROSE GLOW, GLOWING ROSE, and G. I. JOE. The last-named is a late bloomer; its watermelon pink color is tempered somewhat with a tinge of salmon.
14. Is there a double poppy? How many colors are there?
Yes, there are double Oriental poppies. CRIMSON POMPON and SALMON GLOW (their names indicate their colors) and OLYMPIA, an orange-flowered kind. All spread using runners and OLYMPIA can quickly become a pest in favorable situations in the garden.
15. Looking at my garden this year, I saw that I needed some pink salmon flowers. What are some Oriental poppies that I could use?
There are a large number of delicate pink and salmon-pink-colored Oriental poppies. Among the best of the pinks are CHEERIO, PINK RADIANCE, PERFECTION, and NEW PERFECTION. Of the salmon pinks, CURTIS, GIANT SALMON PINK, MARY JANE MILLER, MRS. PERRY and LACHS KOENIGEN are excellent varieties.
16. I live in northern Michigan. Can I grow Oriental poppies here?
Oriental poppies are hardy in northern Michigan. They should be protected in winter with a light mulch, applied after the ground has frozen, of straw, evergreen branches, dried grass, or some similar material that will not pack down and by keeping out air bring about rotting of the growth of the plant.
Because of this danger, such materials as peat moss, manure, or compost should not be employed as a winter mulch.
17. Will I be troubled with insects and diseases on my plant poppies? What can I do for them?
Like most plants, Oriental poppies suffer from some diseases and pests, but if conditions are right and reasonable precautions are taken, these are not likely to be extraordinarily troublesome. Bacterial blight causes water-soaked small spots that turn an intense black. A slimy exudation accompanies them. There is no cure.
Dig out and destroy affected plants, and do not plant poppies in the same place for several years. Verticillium wilt causes the whole plant to collapse and die. Treatment is the same as for bacterial blight. Aphids often infest Oriental poppies. They may be controlled by spraying with malathion.
The four-lined plant bug (which causes small circular brown spots) and the tarnished plant hug (distorts flower buds) may be troublesome. For both, spray with rotenone or malathion.
18. I let some seed pods form on my deep red Oriental poppy. If I plant these seeds, will I get the same color flowers?
Garden varieties of Oriental poppies are presumably hybrids between Papaver Orientale and Papaver bracteosurn and perhaps some other species. Both Papaver orientate, and Papaver bracteosuin have orange-colored flowers.
This accounts that such expert breeders as A. E. Curtis of Cincinnati report that even a white-flowered variety selfed with its pollen will give seedlings of which 90 to 95 percent have orange flowers.
There have been a few exceptions to this. Still, repeated selling in attempts to develop kinds that will breed reasonably accurate from seed has usually resulted in giving all! or almost all, sterile seeds.
Do not expect seeds of your deep red-flowered Oriental poppy to produce plants having the same colored flowers as their parent.
19. Would you advise mulching Oriental poppies?
Mulching is unnecessary for Oriental poppies except where winters can be frigid, as explained in question 16. If a heavy mulch of a moisture-retaining material that does not permit the easy circulation of air about the base of the plant is used, it may encourage disease. A light mulch does not harm and can be helpful, particularly on sandy soils.
44659 by T. H. Everett