When To Transplant Poppies

Transplant perennial poppies when the plant stops blooming in late summer or early autumn.

Dig a circle around the poppy, 8 to 10 inches from the plant, using a shovel or spade with a sharp blade.

Plant the poppy immediately and don't allow the roots to become dry.

Prepare a sunny spot in your garden, as poppies prefer a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day. Any well-drained soil is fine.

Dig a hole about twice as wide as the clump of soil and deep enough to accommodate the roots.

Fill the hole with soil, and then pat the soil gently but firmly around the roots.

Water the poppy deeply, and then keep the soil consistently moist for about four weeks, or until the plant establishes itself and new growth appears.

Feed the poppies after transplant, using a general purpose slow-release fertilizer. After the first growing season, no fertilizer is required. Water immediately after applying fertilizer.

Spread a 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch such as shredded bark or pine needles around the base of the plant after transplant.

Shovel or spade

Bucket of soil or damp burlap (optional)

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Can you transplant poppies in the spring?

Oriental poppies are typically planted in the spring, but can be transplanted in the late summer. However, because they produce long tap roots, special care is required to ensure their survival. via

How do you divide poppies?

Divide the poppy clump in September after fall rains have begun. Dig out the poppy root clump with a shovel, beginning just outside the drip line of the plant. Continue digging until you can turn up the poppy roots. Oriental poppies have a mass of white taproots shaped like thin carrots. via

Do poppies transplant easily?

Oriental poppies (Papaver orientale) can be tricky to transplant because of their long tap root, but it can be done, and late summer is the best time. Oriental poppies (Papaver orientale)—the type with large, showy spring flowers—are best transplanted in late summer, when they are not actively growing. via

How big should poppy seedlings be before transplanting?

Sow seeds thinly, and cover with a light scattering of seed-raising mix. Water with a fine spray and keep the surface moist until seedlings emerge in 10-14 days. Transplant when seedlings are a few centimetres high, spacing plants about 20-30cm apart. via

Do poppies spread?

Poppies typically spread through seed formation. The flowers die back and yield seed pods that mature in summer. Many poppies, like California poppies, take root easily. They quickly spread across a hillside and may yield several generations in a season. via

Can I move poppies?

Making more poppies is easy; if you've ever tried to move an oriental poppy, you'll know that any scrap of root that remains will regenerate, and it's this propensity that gardeners exploit to make root cuttings. Cuttings should be 2.5-5cm long, and the skinnier the cutting, the longer it needs be. via

Do you deadhead poppies?

Deadhead faded poppy flowers often to encourage more blooms. If left to seed poppies self-sow, so avoid unwanted spread by removing faded flowers in good time. To harvest seed pods, cut when the pods turn light brown and dry out for 1-2 weeks before breaking open and storing seeds in a jar for up to two years. via

Do poppies come back year after year?

Most commonly, gardeners can choose from the annual poppies grown each year from seed (Papaver, Eschscholtzia), or perennial poppies that come back from underground roots each year (Papaver, Stylophorum). Either way, poppies are pure joy to have in the garden or scattered across the landscape. via

How do you care for poppies?

Water. While poppies can handle drought, watering the soil thoroughly once a week can help the flowers thrive and encourage more blooms.

Weed. To prevent other plants from coming in and competing for water and nutrients, keep your poppy bed weed-free.

Deadhead.

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Do poppies like full sun?

Your poppy will always need full sunlight and well-drained soil. via

How often do poppies bloom?

These poppies are perennials, forming a clump of hairy foliage that dies back every year after the painfully short bloom period in late spring and early summer. The plant only flowers about four weeks but the exact flowering season varies among cultivars. via

What to do with poppies when they are done blooming?

Cut back and deadhead Oriental poppies after flowering. Cutting them right back to ground level will stimulate growth of fresh new foliage, and perhaps even some new blooms. Mulching and feeding will help to support this new growth. via

Can I just scatter poppy seeds?

Annual poppies should be sown direct on to well-prepared soil. Sow in spring, early summer or autumn, where they're to flower. Water the soil with a fine spray of water and then scatter the seed. via

How often should you water poppy seeds?

In sandy soils, California Poppy may need supplemental water about every 2 to 4 weeks during cool weather, and about every 1 to 2 weeks during warm-to-hot weather. Seedlings and younger plants may need more-frequent watering. via

What month do you plant poppy seeds?

Poppies are best when they are grown from seed that is planted in fall or winter, even in cold winter areas. The seeds need to go through the natural freeze and thaw cycles to germinate and that is accomplished by fall sowing. They can also be sown in early spring, about a month before your last frost date. via

Where do perennials grow poppies?

Plant Poppies in groups in a sunny, well-drained position and match them with summer bloomers or annuals that spread out and will conceal their early dormancy. via

Are poppies invasive?

Invasive potential

Because of its beauty and ease of growing, the California poppy was introduced into several regions with similar Mediterranean climates. via

What do poppies represent?

Our red poppy is a symbol of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future. Poppies are worn as a show of support for the Armed Forces community. via