How to Grow Corn Poppy? Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Precautions

The corn poppy is truly a beautiful flower, deeply loved by people. Some friends who like it want to grow a pot, but worry that improper care might cause it to die. Some also think that the corn poppy, just like its name, is as delicate and hard to please as a dainty young lady. So below we introduce its planting methods, to see whether it is really difficult to grow.

How to Grow Corn Poppy

The corn poppy is very easy to grow, especially when sown outdoors, which is even simpler. Choose a seedbed on slightly higher ground, sow the seeds, and place 3-4 seeds in each hole. Do not worry that the seeds will affect growth after they germinate; as long as the seeds have grown out, you can thin the seedlings, which will also allow the corn poppy to grow better.

Thinning should be done early; do not wait until the corn poppy has grown very large to thin, as this will affect the survival of the other corn poppies. Usually, when the corn poppy has produced 3-4 leaves, you can thin the seedlings, and at this time it can also allow the corn poppy to grow better. Of course, if you want to transplant, you can also choose to do it at this time. During the growing process of the corn poppy, nutrients are essential, and it is best to provide nutrients mainly in the form of liquid fertilizer, so that the corn poppy can grow better and absorb more sufficient nutrients.

Corn Poppy Planting Methods and Precautions

Planting methods:

1. Sowing and propagation: Sow in September to October in a seedbed prepared in advance. The suitable germination temperature is 20°C. Because the seeds are very small, the seedbed soil must be finely prepared. After sowing, do not cover with soil; cover with grass to keep moist, and remove the cover after the seedlings emerge. Corn poppy seeds scatter easily; after one year of growing, the environment does not need to be sown again, as countless small seedlings will grow on their own in the same place.

2. Planting: After sowing and seedling emergence, if not transplanting, you can thin and set the plants at a spacing of 20 cm × 30 cm between plants and rows. The planting time should not be later than 110-120 days before the date on which it is to bloom. If transplanting is desired, it must be done on a cloudy day when the true leaves of the seedlings have grown to 3-4. Before transplanting, water thoroughly; when lifting the seedlings, keep the soil around them and do not damage the roots.

3. Light: It prefers cool conditions and dislikes high temperatures. Warm winters and cool summers are most suitable for its growth. During the growing period, it requires sufficient light, with at least 4 hours of direct sunlight every day. If the growing environment is dark and the light is insufficient, the plant will grow thin and weak, and the flower color will be dull.

4. Temperature: The corn poppy is cold-resistant and afraid of summer heat. The suitable growing temperature is 12-20°C. When the summer temperature rises, the growth of the corn poppy weakens, and the aboveground parts turn yellow and die. Low nighttime temperatures are beneficial for growth and flowering, and it grows well in high-altitude mountainous areas.

5. Watering: When sowing, apply sufficient base fertilizer. During the growing period, it likes moist soil and should be watered in a timely manner. Watering should follow the principle of “dry-wet cycle” (water when dry, stop when wet). Just after planting, control watering to promote root growth; after bud formation, supply sufficient water to keep the soil moist.

6. Fertilizing: Before flowering, apply dilute liquid fertilizer 1-2 times. After bud formation, spray 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution on the leaves once every 3 days to promote flowering. After the corn poppy blooms, promptly cut off the withered flowers so that the remaining flowers bloom better.

Precautions:

1. Of course, one thing you must pay attention to is to clearly identify whether what you are growing is actually the corn poppy. If you fail to distinguish it and end up growing opium poppy, this is illegal!

2. Although the corn poppy rarely suffers from pests and diseases, if too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied, the plants are too dense, or it is continuously cropped for many years, rot disease may occur. The diseased plants must be promptly removed, and then some lime powder can be scattered in the same place. There are not many pests, but sometimes it may be harmed by scarab larvae and scale insects. If found, they can be sprayed with 40% omethoate 1000 times solution, spraying twice at intervals of 7 days.

Can Corn Poppy Be Eaten

The corn poppy cannot be eaten, but its petals, stems, and seeds can all exist as raw materials for medicine. That is to say, it has a beneficial side, but if eaten, it also reveals a dangerous side. Although the corn poppy is a very soft and delicate flower, its body still contains toxins, which exist in the bodies of many plants, and many are raw materials for drugs we know well, which can make people addicted. Especially its seeds: if eaten in excess, it is very likely that some people may lose their lives because of it.

But the flowers, stems, and fruits of the corn poppy still have great value, and many pharmaceutical companies extract beneficial ingredients from them to make certain medicines. It has a very significant effect on common throat discomfort, such as coughing and diarrhea. In addition, its role as a Chinese herbal medicine can also improve our sleep quality and play a certain pain-relieving role.

How to Distinguish Corn Poppy from Opium Poppy

1. Overall, the entire leaf and stem of the corn poppy have fine bristles, while the leaf and stem of the opium poppy rarely have bristles and are relatively smooth and greasy overall.

2. In terms of plant height, the entire corn poppy plant is about 30-100 cm tall, and the whole plant is relatively slender and weak. The opium poppy is about 30-150 cm tall, slightly taller than the corn poppy, and relatively sturdy overall.

3. In terms of petals, the corn poppy mostly has 4 petals, and the colors vary, including red, purple, and white, and the edges of the flowers are relatively smooth and not split. The opium poppy has double petals, mainly red in color, and the edges of the flowers split.

4. In terms of leaves, the leaves of the corn poppy are divided, and the entire leaf surface is narrow. The leaves of the opium poppy are irregular, and the leaf edges are serrated, not divided.

5. In terms of stems, the stem of the corn poppy is relatively thin, mainly green, surrounded by fine hairs, and the tip bends somewhat. The stem of the opium poppy is slightly thicker than that of the corn poppy, also powdery green, hairless and smooth.

In terms of fruit, the fruit of the corn poppy is relatively small, about 1 cm long, and has fine hairs on it, and the fruit droops. The fruit of the opium poppy is relatively long, about 4-7 cm, and the surface of the fruit is relatively smooth, and the fruit stands upright.

It seems that although the corn poppy has medicinal value, because it contains toxins, it cannot be eaten. Therefore, when using it, you must follow medical advice and must not use it indiscriminately. Moreover, the corn poppy and the opium poppy are two plants that are particularly similar and easily confused, but the opium poppy is extremely harmful to people and easily addictive, so special attention must be paid to distinguishing them.