I just sowed a poppy mix.Seeds swept up after designated colors went into plastic bags after gathering a couple of years ago.
Grandson and I transplanted a oakleaf hydrangea and the bare spot was asking for poppies.
Here's how:
Sowing annual poppies
In January when there is a good day.
Scrape away any leaves or mulch to make a bare spot..
Seeds sown on mulch or anything but the bare ground ,wont germinate.
Sprinkle the seeds and press into the ground.Dont bury seeds
I have sown them and covered with screen held down with rocks.This protects the seeds from birds or washing away with rain.
I also made “bottle greenhouses”
Cut the bottoms off of plastic milk bottles and place the bottle over the sown seeds.I put 2 plant supports into the mini milk bottle green house so it wouldnt blow away.
These are the new poppies. DONT WEED THEM OUT.I have done that more times than I want to admit.
Also poppies dont need to be sown this thick. This picture was taken in March but we had a weird spring.
In April check your sites for germination. Dont be discouraged if you dont see anything,I have seen poppies emerge in late May.
If seeds are sown early like November ,and they germinate,leave them they will survive the winter.
In spring when the milk bottle plants are a few inches high,remove the bottle or screen covering so the plants can stretch and grow.
I thin by cutting out plants I dont want.I dont pull plants as this disturbes the tender hairlike roots.