'Never have to plant them again!' Six best poppy varieties to sow in your garden right now
Poppies are very rewarding to grow, with swathes of delicate red petals known to return year after year. Gardening experts have shared exactly how to start your own garden poppy display right now.
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The red poppy has long been used as a symbol of remembrance and hope, commonly worn to commemorate military personnel on Armistice Day in the UK. While the iconic red flowers do not bloom beyond September, it's not too late to plant them in your garden now. British gardener and author, Sarah Raven, has shared how to do it so you "never" have to plant them again".
How to plant poppies
Poppies can be annual, biennial or perennial, with many different varieties to choose from in each category.
While all poppies are relatively easy to grow, annual types including the Californian, common and opium poppies are by far the most rewarding.
British gardener and author, Sarah Raven said: "Once you have these poppies in your garden you will probably never have to plant them again as they seed themselves and come up in the most delightfully random places.
"The opium poppies, in particular, have beautiful seed heads which can be used in dried flower arrangements."
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Traditionally, poppies are sown earlier in autumn - between August and the end of October.
However, the unusually warm climate means the soil is still warm enough to direct-sow seeds in November.
Sarah explained that starting the seeds off is best done in the spot where they will continue to grow as they "tend to resent root disturbance".
A sunny spot with neutral soil will give your annual poppies the best chance.
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Like most wildflowers, sowing poppies is as simple as sprinkling the seeds in your garden.
Sarah said: "Scratch the surface in spring or autumn and sprinkle the seed on top, raking in gently to settle them in.
"You can also sow under cover a little earlier and then transplant to their final position once the risk of frost has passed."
Starting the seeds earlier is best done in winter before planting the young poppies outdoors in spring.
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Before planting seedlings, take the time to acclimatise the small plants to the outdoor conditions.
To do this, soak the poppy seedlings in water and then place them in the soil around the border of your garden.
Leave 20-30cm between each poppy seedling to allow space to grow.
Water well to settle the roots and again if the conditions become dry, or if you choose to plant them in containers.
For poppies that "last forever", Sarah Raven recommended planting perennial varieties including Welsh, oriental and Spanish poppies.
She said "The Welsh and Spanish poppies can be grown from seed sown undercover in early spring and then planted outdoors. Again, once you have them, they will last forever, both as individual plants and in the form of their offspring that seed themselves about (unless you carefully deadhead them)."
Oriental poppies are sold as bare roots which should be planted into their growing position while dormant, between October and March.
Sarah said: "It likes rich moist soil in full sun or partial shade. Make sure you give it plenty of space as the foliage spreads very wide and will shade out its neighbours in spring and early summer."
The Welsh and Spanish poppies can be grown from seed sown undercover in early spring and then planted outdoors. Again, once you have them, they will last forever, both as individual plants and in the form of their offspring that seed themselves about (unless you carefully deadhead them).