Papaver somniferum

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Hilary

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Papaver somniferum
« on: April 29, 2019, 08:23:42 AM »
Papaver somniferum

Not having a garden I avoid plants which need much care.

However after obtaining seeds from THE MEDITERRANEAN GARDEN SOCIETY seed exchange and seeing how my friends enjoyed sowing them in their gardens I decided last year to give it a go. Flowering plants in pots seem to have a very short life on our hot balcony.
I planted the seeds in October and tried to find a less windy place to put the pots.
So far we have had the joy of counting how many Poppy flowers were open each day. I think the greatest number was ten for a few days.

The current seed list is here
http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/seedlist.html
MGS member
Living in Korinthos, Greece.
No garden but two balconies, one facing south and the other north.
Most of my plants are succulents which need little care

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Charithea

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Re: Papaver somniferum
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2019, 09:56:25 AM »
Well done Hilary. Mine never germinated. By the way my mother used to grow this type of poppy.
I garden in Cyprus, in a flat old farming field, alt. approx. 30 m asl.

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Alisdair

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Re: Papaver somniferum
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2019, 05:33:44 PM »
They have done well, Hilary. We grow them here in Sussex (and they reseed), but I've never thought they'd stand our Greek garden. Your success certainly tempts me to try.
Alisdair Aird
Gardens in SE England (Sussex); also coastal Southern Greece, and (in a very small way) South West France; MGS member (and former president); vice chairman RHS Lily Group, past chairman Cyclamen Society

Hilary

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Re: Papaver somniferum
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2019, 06:47:28 PM »
I must say the had plenty of mollycoddling and talking to
MGS member
Living in Korinthos, Greece.
No garden but two balconies, one facing south and the other north.
Most of my plants are succulents which need little care

Umbrian

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Re: Papaver somniferum
« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2019, 06:22:38 AM »
A lovely venture Hilary - what will you try next?
MGS member living and gardening in Umbria, Italy for past 19 years. Recently moved from my original house and now planning and planting a new small garden.

Hilary

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Re: Papaver somniferum
« Reply #5 on: April 30, 2019, 07:15:25 AM »
More mauve/ purple flowers
Too busy enjoying this spring to think about plans for next spring!
MGS member
Living in Korinthos, Greece.
No garden but two balconies, one facing south and the other north.
Most of my plants are succulents which need little care

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Fermi

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Re: Papaver somniferum
« Reply #6 on: November 03, 2020, 12:57:39 PM »
We didn't sow any of these poppies this year but they pop up around the garden.
The original one here was a plummy purple but we introduced a few different colours over the years, as well as doubles
cheers
fermi
Mr F de Sousa, Central Victoria, Australia
member of AGS, SRGC, NARGS
working as a physio to support my gardening habit!

David Dickinson

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Re: Papaver somniferum
« Reply #7 on: November 04, 2020, 01:24:56 AM »
I'm not normally a fan of double flowers but the penultimate and the last of those poppies are amazing. The petals look like dancing flames in a fire ball.
I have a small garden in Rome, Italy. Some open soil, some concrete, some paved. Temperatures in winter occasionally down to 0°C. Summer temperatures up to 40°C in the shade. There are never watering restrictions but, of course, there is little natural water for much of June, July and August.

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Fermi

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Re: Papaver somniferum
« Reply #8 on: November 22, 2021, 08:03:52 AM »
This year a semi-double purple has appeared
cheers
fermi
Mr F de Sousa, Central Victoria, Australia
member of AGS, SRGC, NARGS
working as a physio to support my gardening habit!

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Fermi

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Re: Papaver somniferum
« Reply #9 on: November 22, 2021, 08:05:31 AM »
There have been a couple of interesting "new" doubles - a purple and a dark coral
cheers
fermi
Mr F de Sousa, Central Victoria, Australia
member of AGS, SRGC, NARGS
working as a physio to support my gardening habit!