Bright red flowers in the summer grain field - this is how the corn poppy presents itself impressively to the eye of the beholder. But the wild poppy is more than a decorative “weed”, it is also often used as a garden plant.
What are the characteristics and requirements of the corn poppy?
The corn poppy is an annual to biennial plant with bright red flowers that blooms from May to July. It prefers a sunny, dry location with well-drained soil and requires little water and no fertilization. Cultivated forms also include shades of pink and white.
The Wild Poppy
The classic corn poppy blooms bright red and usually grows in groups of several plants. It is one to two years old and usually self-exterminates. For some years, corn poppies were rarely seen on the edges of fields because the grain fields were often and generously treated with herbicides. It is now widely used again.
Unfortunately, the individual flowers only appear for a few days, but there are new ones almost every day. The red shines everywhere during the flowering period from May to around July. If you want to cut the corn poppies for the vase, then choose plants whose buds are just beginning to open. If you hold the stems briefly under hot water, the flowers will last a little longer.
Breeding forms of the corn poppy
In addition to many different types of poppy, such as the Turkish poppy, peony poppy or Icelandic poppy, there are also some cultivated forms of the corn poppy. You can get plants and seed mixtures in delicate pink tones and even white poppies in stores.
Requirements for the ideal location
Common poppy likes to grow on fallow land, on the edges of unsprayed grain fields and on railway embankments. What all places have in common is that they often get a lot of sun. This shows the most important requirement for the ideal location for corn poppies: sun.
Sow or plant your corn poppy in a place that is as sunny and dry as possible because it only needs a little water. It can also withstand a longer dry period without really being damaged. That's why you should only water it very sparingly. It's better to avoid adding fertilizer altogether, because corn poppies don't need very many nutrients.
The most important things in brief:
- sunny and dry location
- permeable soil
- water little or not at all
- do not fertilize
- Flowering period from May
Tips & Tricks
In addition to the corn poppy, there are many other poppy varieties with interesting flower and color variations for growing in the garden. Why not plant Icelandic or peony poppies as an alternative to the more well-known Turkish poppy.
