Many garden lovers would like to grow their own plants from seeds or propagate existing plants. This is quite easy to do with poppy seeds. Annual varieties are easy to sow, perennials can also be propagated by division.
How can you successfully propagate corn poppies?
Common poppies can be propagated by self-sowing, division or direct sowing. For natural propagation, leave the bloomed inflorescences standing. Divide perennial rootstocks in late fall or winter, or sow seeds directly in the desired location. Make sure that corn poppies are light germinators and require little water.
Reproduction by division
You can propagate the perennial varieties of poppy by dividing the rootstock. The best time for this is late autumn or winter. However, the ground should be free of frost. Then expose the roots of your poppy and use the spade to cut off several side shoots. These root pieces should be at least 8 cm long and, if possible, not too thin.
Place the root pieces in pots with potting soil (€6.00 on Amazon) so high that the upper cut edge is flush with the surface of the soil and is not covered by soil. After a few weeks, the first shoots have formed and the young plants can be planted outdoors in spring.
Sowing corn poppies
If you would rather sow poppy seeds instead of buying plants, then sow them straight away in their final location because they are difficult to prick out. Scatter the seeds widely and add just a little soil over them. To make it easier to spread the seeds, mix in some sand. This will prevent too many seeds from ending up in the same place.
Propagation by self-sowing
Leave the bloomed inflorescences on a few plants, then your corn poppy will sow itself. It germinates relatively easily and reliably. In this way you don't have to work with the seeds, but you also have no influence on the location and the amount of sowing. You can also remove the ripe seeds from the seed capsules and sow them elsewhere.
The best propagation tips for corn poppies:
- Easiest method of propagation: self-sowing
- Propagation possible by division
- Sowing relatively uncomplicated
- It is best to sow directly in the desired location
- Light germinator
- Do not water seeds and young plants too much
Tips & Tricks
The easiest way to propagate corn poppies is by self-sowing. After the flowering period, simply leave a few flowered inflorescences standing so that the seed capsules can mature.
