How to grow the herbaceous plant corn poppy? Detailed guide to sowing time, flowering period and growth cycle

Corn poppy, also known as Lichunhua, Saimudan, Manyuanchun, Xiannühao, Yumeirencao and Wucao, is commonly cultivated across China. So when does it usually get sown and bloom? How long is its growth cycle? How do you grow it? According to data from the Papaveraceae, the corn poppy is a biennial herbaceous plant. In April and May it bears large purple, white, pink or red flowers that are very beautiful. Native to Europe and northern Asia, it is especially loved by Belgians and has been designated their national flower.

When does the herbaceous plant corn poppy usually get sown and bloom?

1. Sowing time of corn poppy

Sowing time of corn poppy: March to April in spring or September to October in autumn. The germination temperature for corn poppy is around 20 degrees, so the specific timing can be decided according to local temperatures.

2. Corn poppy all needs to be sown in the autumn of the same year, then safely overwintered, and only in April to May of the following year will it bloom. However, this cultivation method requires going through a winter, so it takes a very long cycle.

3. The suitable temperature for the growth and development of corn poppy is 5-25°C. In areas with high temperatures in spring and summer, the flowering period shortens, and the temperature difference between day and night is large. Low nighttime temperatures favor growth and flowering, and it grows well in high-altitude mountain areas, where the flower colors are even more brilliant. Its lifespan is 3-5 years. It is cold-resistant, afraid of summer heat, likes a sunny environment, and prefers well-drained, fertile sandy loam. It does not tolerate transplanting and dislikes continuous cropping and waterlogging. It can self-sow. The flowering period is May to August.

How do you grow corn poppy?

1. Corn poppy is mainly propagated by sowing and is usually grown as a biennial. Corn poppy flowers and plants of the same genus all have taproots with very few fibrous roots and are extremely intolerant of transplanting, so direct sowing should be used for propagation. If it is needed for garden landscaping, it is best to raise seedlings in nutrient pots or small paper pots and transplant together with the pot, otherwise it is very difficult to survive or it grows poorly. The sowing period is determined by climate characteristics; Northeast China is relatively cold, so sowing can begin as early as possible in spring. The seeds are tiny, so sowing must be done carefully, using drilling with a row spacing of 25-30 cm, and in severe winter dry grass is spread on the surface to protect against the cold. The optimum temperature for seed germination is 20°C. At home, it can be direct-sown in flower pots.

2. Propagation by sowing. Sowing can be done in both spring and autumn. Generally, spring sowing is in March to April, with flowering in June to July; autumn sowing is in September to November, with flowering in May to June of the following year. If the goal is to collect seeds, it is best to use autumn sowing. The soil should be worked finely, made into beds and watered thoroughly, then broadcast-sown or drill-sown. Because corn poppy seeds are tiny, when sowing, the soil should be leveled and finely broken up; after broadcast sowing, there is no need to cover with soil, or a thin layer of fine sandy soil can be applied. The covering thickness should be such that the seeds are no longer visible (0.2-0.3 cm). In North China, because winters are severe and seedlings struggle to overwinter, direct sowing is mostly done at the beginning of winter around “Minor Snow”, so that they can germinate and grow as early as possible in spring

3. If you want corn poppy to bloom in the same year it is planted, that is also possible, but certain techniques are required.

First, corn poppy needs to be spring-sown. The sowing time is in early March, after the soil begins to thaw, and you can choose open-field sowing or pot sowing. The sowing method is not difficult. For pot sowing, the soil needs to be prepared, put into the pot, and watered thoroughly. After the water has fully seeped in, mix the corn poppy seeds with fine sand and sprinkle them evenly into the flower pot; there is no need to cover with soil when sowing.

Next is the care of corn poppy. After sowing corn poppy, it is necessary to do a good job of moisture retention and shading, and plastic film can be used as a cover. After the seedlings emerge, the plastic film can be removed. As the seedlings grow, they can be thinned appropriately.

Another very important point is water management. From April to May, corn poppy growth gradually speeds up, and at this time sufficient water and fertilizer must be ensured, applying a dilute fertilizer solution once a week. In this way, by around mid-May, the corn poppy will bloom.