How to Gather, Dry and Grow Poppy Seeds

My potted poppies have bloomed, and all that remained were the stems and poppy heads. The pods were nothing to look at compared to the beautiful flowers that once adorned them. Yet the unattractive pods contained valuable seeds that can be used to grow more poppies next year. Once you get poppies, you can have them forever. Planted in a flower bed, poppies will spread like wildfire. And if you don't thin them out periodically, they'll take over. Poppies are available in a rainbow of colors, so you're sure to find ones you like. Read this informative article and learn how to gather, dry, and grow poppy seeds!

How to Gather Poppy Seeds

When the poppy seeds have matured and it's time to gather them, you'll know. The poppy heads turn from green to a grayish-brown color. Also, you'll notice the very top of the poppy pods- the crown- turns from green to a tan color. You'll also notice that the pod begins to open up right below the crown. When they're ready, you need to snip the heads off- right at their bottoms where they connect to the stem. I use my sharp garden shears. You can also use a pair of household scissors to do the job.

When you cut the poppy pods off, you'll need to take note of what heads are what color. I grew only pink and orange poppies in separate spots, so it was easy for me to remember which was which. And, I simply kept the pods separated.

However, poppies are available in many colors including pink, orange, red, blue, yellow, white, crimson and lilac, just to name a few. If you have a variety of poppy colors in your flower gardens, you'll need to cut off the pods of one color at a time and keep them separated as well. Unless you want a mixed variety of colors, that is. Then it won't matter.

How to Dry Poppy Seeds

I spread my poppy heads out in single layers on two old platters. I marked one "Pink" and one "Orange". (I'm getting some more poppy heads from my neighbor and my sister-in-law so I'll have even more to group.) The poppy pods need to dry out before you can continue gathering the seeds. I stored mine in a warm, dry place up and out of the reach of kids and pets. The opium type of poppy seed can be ingested. But the decorative type that I grow- I believe the seeds are toxic.

In a week are so, the poppy pods should be completely dried out. It's now time to finish gathering them. All you need to do is hold each poppy head upside down in a zip-top plastic bag. (You can also store them in brown paper bags or in sealed jars.) Tap your finger on the bottom of each poppy pod and the tiny black seeds should fall right out. You may need to carefully open a poppy pod here or there to help the seeds out.

How to Grow Poppy Seeds

In the fall, I'll plant the poppy seeds that I gathered in my flower beds. Then come spring, I'll have more beautiful flowers around my house.

All I do to grow the poppy seeds is use my little hand cultivator to loosen the ground about an inch down. The best soil to grow poppies in is rich, well-drained soil. These flowers like sunshine, so you'll also need to choose an appropriate location. Then, I'll just sow the seeds evenly and moisten the ground. We usually have a lot of rain in the fall, so I shouldn't need to water the poppy seeds much after I plant them, if at all.

After that, nature does the rest because poppy seeds need to freeze to germinate. When the seedlings come up in the spring, and reach a couple inches tall, I'll need to thin them.

Fertilize your poppies once a month and keep the soil moist, and you'll have beautiful flowers too!

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Kassidy Emmerson