Himalayan Blue Poppy

Does anyone have any luck growing the Himalyan Blue Poppy and If you do could you give me some tips,, I have tried to germinate this beautiful plant for the last 3 years, I finally found some live plants and those didn't make it for me either.. any information would be helpfull
Thank-you
Terri.

[Janie2004]

Hi.
I have wondered about the blue poppy also.
It is such a beautiful blue in the seed catalogs; blue is a rare flower color!

It is recommended for growing in a warmer climate than my Indiana zone 5.

Did you know that poppies are difficult to transplant because their roots do not like to be jiggled at all? That is why they often die when we try to transplant them.

I have some BEAUTIFUL poppies; bright orange (an old-fashioned spreader, the petals look like crepe paper) and a huge red one with a black center, a deep orange oriental poppy, Shirley poppies in many colors, red corn poppies, oh, and an old-fashioned red poppy that looks like a carnation. (I see the seeds in Thompson and Morgan and they come in white and pink also)

It is 26 degrees this morning. I am SOOOO anxious for warm weather.
I do have lots of crocus blooming.

Where are you from and what is the temperature?
Don't give up on the blue poppies if you still have seeds.
They are pretty expensive though, aren't they?

Here is one tip on germinating poppy seeds. DO NOT COVER THE SEEDS WITH SOIL. Just press them down as they need sunlight to germinate.

Sincerely, Janie

[pruninggal]

It's funny because the poppy grows so easily here that often people are trying to get rid of it rather than start it! I've included a link that you might find interesting - what the right conditions are for planting and caring. Good luck!

http://www.dutchbulbs.com/bulblady/f...poppyblues.htm

[Janie2004]

That is amazing that it grows so easily there.
I read the site you showed and it says:

"What are the right conditions for this poppy? Well – it is a native of Tibet, so ideally you would try to imitate the climate there. But for most of us, this isn't practical. The closest we come is in the Pacific Northwest, where people grow this fabled plant with relative ease. They have just the right kinds of seasons, rainfall and soil."

So I guess that is why Seattle, Wash. is a good growing place!
LUCKY YOU. :D :D :D
The blue poppy is GORGEOUS!
Love, Janie

[backyardgardener]

I use to grow and sell meconopsis to growers. When I bought my first house and started to learn to garden... my grandfather wanted to see if I could grow Meconopsis.

Now we all know the Welch poppy is just a weed, but the Blue poppy is something else.

The key goal is getting fresh seeds.

Stratify the seeds for a month in the refrig.
Use Sunshine Mix # 3 for plugs.
- four inch pot
- water from the bottom up
- use shop grow lights with one bulb only.
- place a plastic bag over the four in pot ans seal it with a rubber band.
- surrounding temp should be 65 degrees
- try to place the light foot above the four inch pot.
- water from the bottom up
- condisation will build.. so flick it off
- when the true leaves emerge, remove the rubber band and place the bag on loosely
- when they get bigger remove the bag
- when the get about a inch in height, transfer to plugs