How to grow corn poppies? Detailed guide to sowing and care
Corn poppy
Corn poppies come in a brilliant variety of colors, and they look stunning when they bloom in the morning sun. Beautiful scenery lifts the spirit, so some parks plant corn poppies in large drifts to give visitors more to enjoy. They can also be grown in the courtyard, so you can enjoy the beautiful view without traveling far while also refining your sense of aesthetics. Why not? Let's take a look below at how to sow and care for corn poppies.
I. When to sow
Sow in a pre-prepared seedbed every year in September-October. The germination temperature is around 20°C. Because corn poppy seeds are very small, there is no need to cover them with soil after sowing; just keep them moist.
II. Sowing method
Corn poppies are usually propagated by sowing; transplanting has a low survival rate, so direct sowing in the open ground is preferable. Drilling is most often used. For autumn sowing, space seedlings 20-30 cm apart; for spring sowing, 15-25 cm apart. The optimum germination temperature is 15°C-20°C. Seedlings emerge about a week after sowing. Because the seeds are very small, the seedbed soil must be worked fine; do not cover with soil after sowing, cover with straw to keep moist, and remove the cover once seedlings emerge. Because corn poppy seeds scatter easily, after the plants have been grown for one year the site need not be sown again; countless small seedlings will come up on their own in place.
III. Characteristics of the corn poppy
The colder it gets, the more it grows; it can withstand severe cold of -15°C, and generally -2 to 3°C is the most suitable for growth. During growth, the corn poppy dislikes being watered too much; it needs to be kept on the dry, sunny side to grow vigorously. It likes fertilizer and should be given a little more human manure and urine.
IV. Care and management
After seedlings emerge, thin them out. The spacing for established plants is about 30 cm between rows. When they have grown 5-6 leaves, choose a cloudy day, water thoroughly first, and then transplant; be careful not to damage the roots when moving them, and keep soil around the roots, pressing the soil firm when planting. Normally there is no need to water too much; just keep the soil moist. During the growing period, apply once every 2-3 weeks a fully rotted liquid manure diluted with 5 times water. For plants not being kept for seed, promptly cut off wilted flowers during the flowering period so the remaining flowers bloom better. The capsules ripen unevenly and need to be harvested in batches for seed saving.
1. Planting: After sowing and seedling emergence, if you do not transplant, you can thin and set the plants at 20 cm x 30 cm spacing between plants and rows. The planting time should not be later than 110-120 days before the date you want them to flower. If you want to transplant, do it on a cloudy day when the seedlings have grown 3-4 true leaves. Water thoroughly before transplanting, and lift the seedlings with soil, without damaging the roots.
2. Light and temperature: It likes cool conditions and dislikes high temperatures; warm winters and cool summers suit it best. The suitable growing temperature is 12-20°C. When summer temperatures rise, corn poppies grow weaker and the aboveground parts turn yellow and die. During the growing period it requires ample light, with at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. If the growing environment is shady and light is insufficient, the plants grow thin and weak, and the flower colors are dull.
Corn poppy
V. Fertilizer and water management
When sowing, apply enough base fertilizer. During the growing period it likes moist soil, so water promptly. Watering should follow the principle of "water when dry, stop when wet." Just after planting, control watering to promote root growth; after buds appear, supply water generously to keep the soil moist. Before flowering, apply dilute liquid fertilizer 1-2 times; after buds appear, spray the leaves once every 3 days with a 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution to force flowering. After flowering, promptly cut off wilted flowers so the remaining flowers bloom better.
Corn poppies like ample sunlight, tolerate dryness and drought, but do not tolerate waterlogging. During the growing period, do not water too much; keeping the soil moist is best. If it is not very dry, there is no need to water. But too much drought will delay flowering and affect quality. Do not apply too much fertilizer, otherwise the plants grow leggy, and if too tall they easily lodge. Generally, before sowing, dig the soil deeply and apply enough base fertilizer; before budding and flowering, apply dilute cake fertilizer water once or twice more, and avoid fertilizing during the flowering period.
VI. Cold protection and overwintering
Corn poppies are fairly cold-tolerant, but in regions with severe winter cold, cold protection still needs to be strengthened. For open-ground sowing, add a straw curtain in winter, and in the depths of winter add another layer of plastic film for protection. For pot sowing, move them into a greenhouse promptly. After the thaw in early spring, remove the coverings and earth up around the roots. In areas south of the Yellow River, no cold protection facilities are needed in winter.
VII. Pest and disease control
Corn poppies rarely suffer pests and diseases, but if too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied, the plants are too dense, or they are grown continuously in the same spot for years, rot disease may appear. Remove the diseased plants promptly and scatter some lime powder in the same spot. There are not many insect pests, but sometimes they are harmed by scarab beetle larvae and scale insects. If found, spray with a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate, spraying twice at 7-day intervals to eliminate the insects.
Most people grow other kinds of flowers and plants alongside corn poppies, which is highly commendable, but flower lovers should be reminded that in the process of growing flowers and plants, the growing methods for different kinds of flowers and plants should also differ. Of course, as long as you master the sowing and care techniques for corn poppies above, when the flowering season comes, the corn poppies will surely open brilliant, colorful blooms.
Sowing and growing corn poppies and fertilizer and water management
Corn poppy (scientific name: Papaver rhoeas L.): an annual herb, the whole plant covered with spreading bristles, rarely hairless. Stem erect, 25-90 cm tall, branched. Leaf outline lanceolate or narrowly ovate, pinnately lobed, the lobes lanceolate. Flowers solitary at the tips of the stem and branches; buds oblong-obovate, nodding; sepals 2, broadly elliptic; petals 4, round, transversely broadly elliptic, or broadly obovate, 2.5-4.5 cm long, entire, rarely crenate or notched at the apex, purple-red, usually with dark purple spots at the base. Capsule broadly obovate, 1-2.2 cm long, hairless, with inconspicuous ribs. Seeds numerous, kidney-shaped oblong, about 1 mm long. Flowering and fruiting period March-August. Sowing and growing Corn poppies are usually propagated by sowing; transplanting has a low survival rate, so direct sowing in the open ground is preferable. Autumn sowing is generally in early September, but spring sowing is also possible, that is, sowing when the land thaws in early spring, most often by drilling. For autumn sowing, space seedlings 20-30 cm apart; for spring sowing, 15-25 cm apart. The optimum germination temperature is 15°C-20°C. Seedlings emerge about a week after sowing. Because corn poppy seeds scatter easily, after the plants have been grown for one year the site need not be sown again; countless small seedlings will come up on their own in place.Fertilizer and water management Corn poppies like ample sunlight, tolerate dryness and drought, but do not tolerate waterlogging. During the growing period, do not water too much; keeping the soil moist is best. If it is not very dry, there is no need to water. But too much drought will delay flowering and affect quality. Do not apply too much fertilizer, otherwise the plants grow leggy, and if too tall they easily lodge. Generally, before sowing, dig the soil deeply and apply enough base fertilizer; before budding and flowering, apply dilute cake fertilizer water once or twice more, and avoid fertilizing during the flowering period.
Cold protection and overwintering Corn poppies are fairly cold-tolerant, but in regions with severe winter cold, cold protection still needs to be strengthened. For open-ground sowing, add a straw curtain in winter, and in the depths of winter add another layer of plastic film for protection. For pot sowing, move them into a greenhouse promptly. After the thaw in early spring, remove the coverings and earth up around the roots. In areas south of the Yellow River, no cold protection facilities are needed in winter.
How to grow corn poppies: growing methods for corn poppies
Corn poppy flowers are colorful and varied, quite beautiful. They are not only suitable for flowerbed growing and pot growing but can also be used as cut flowers. So how do you grow corn poppies? What are the growing methods for potted corn poppies? Let's find out together.
I. How to grow corn poppies
Corn poppies like sunlight, are fairly cold-tolerant, and dislike hot, humid environments; they have a taproot and do not tolerate transplanting. They can self-sow, and have no strict soil requirements; they are best planted in a spot with good ventilation and drainage. The suitable temperature for growth and development is 5-25°C. In areas with high spring and summer temperatures, the flowering period is shortened, and the temperature difference between day and night is large. Low nighttime temperatures favor growth and flowering; they grow well in high-altitude mountain areas, and the flower colors are even more brilliant. Lifespan 3-5 years.
Corn poppies are mostly propagated by sowing. Because they do not tolerate transplanting, direct sowing is often used for propagation. If they are needed for garden displays, it is best to raise seedlings in nutrient pots or small paper pots and transplant them pot and all, otherwise they are very hard to establish or grow poorly. The sowing time is decided according to climate characteristics. The Northeast region is relatively cold, so after the soil thaws around the Spring Festival, sow directly in beds; the North China region mostly sows directly in early winter to prompt early sprouting in spring. Because the seeds are tiny, sowing must be done carefully, using drilling with 25-30 cm row spacing, and in the depths of winter cover the bed surface with dry grass for cold protection. At home, you can sow directly in flower pots.
II. Growing methods for corn poppies
1. Watering: Corn poppies tolerate dryness and drought, but do not tolerate waterlogging. During the growing period, do not water too much; keeping the soil moist is best. If it is not very dry, there is no need to water. But too much drought will delay flowering and affect quality.
2. Sunlight: During the growing period, corn poppies require ample light, with at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. If the growing environment is shady and light is insufficient, the plants grow thin and weak, and the flower colors are dull.
3. Temperature: Corn poppies like cool conditions and dislike high temperatures; warm winters and cool summers suit them best. The suitable growing temperature is 12-20°C. When summer temperatures rise, corn poppies grow weaker and the aboveground parts turn yellow and die.
4. Fertilizing: Before flowering, corn poppies should be given dilute liquid fertilizer 1-2 times; after buds appear, spray the leaves once every 3 days with a 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution to force flowering. Do not apply too much fertilizer, otherwise the plants grow leggy, and if too tall they easily lodge.
5. Insect pests: Corn poppies rarely suffer pests and diseases, but if too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied, the plants are too dense, or they are grown continuously in the same spot for years, rot disease may appear. Remove the diseased plants promptly and scatter some lime powder in the same spot. There are not many insect pests, but sometimes they are harmed by scarab beetle larvae and scale insects. If found, spray with a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate, spraying twice at 7-day intervals to eliminate the insects.
The above isthe growing methods for corn poppiesHaving introduced them, when corn poppies bloom, their thin petals are as delicate as silk, smooth as satin, and the light flower crowns are like clusters of red clouds and pieces of colored silk, swaying in the wind. If you like them, grow some yourself.