The poppy only flowers for a short time, but it is extremely popular in German gardens. No wonder, because the flowers are quite impressive.
Most people only know them from fields and meadows - others even have them in their gardens. We are talking about the poppy, also called corn poppy. The plant's popularity is easy to explain, because if the flower is one thing, then it's a real eye-catcher. Why? Because it can reach a height of up to 80 centimeters. And the flowers, which appear from May to September depending on the variety, are also impressive. They can grow up to 10 centimeters in diameter. In addition, they fascinate us with colors from red to pink to white. Unfortunately, the flowers withered after just a few days, but if you plant poppies in groups, they can really work.
Planting poppies in the garden
»Location:
Common poppies do best in a sunny spot in the garden. The plant needs a lot of light for its development. When planting, however, note that the leaves die off after flowering. You should therefore never place the poppy on its own, but always plant it in conjunction with other tall perennials to cover up the gaps. Poppies are particularly beautiful next to lupins, goldenrod, daisies, cornflowers and delphiniums, as they form a beautiful contrast to the bright red blossoms of the poppy.
» Floor:
Poppies prefer well-drained and nutrient-rich soil. It is therefore advisable to enrich the soil with mature compost a few weeks before planting the poppies.
How to properly care for poppies
Poppies are very easy to care for plants. Basically you don't have to do anything. The flowers bloom splendidly even without your intervention. However, if you want them to thrive, water them regularly. However, you don't have to fertilize them.
However, you should regularly remove the faded parts of the plant. That just looks nicer. Once the flowering period is over, you can remove the plants completely from the soil. If you don't do this, the poppies will multiply by themselves. But then certainly not in the places where you want it. Removetherefore prefer the faded plants and multiply the poppies in the garden.
How to propagate poppies
If you want to get more out of your poppies, you can easily propagate them. To do this, expose the roots of the poppy in late autumn or winter and cut off several side shoots. These should be about 8 centimeters long and can be placed in pots with potting soil in the house or in the conservatory. Make sure that the roots are flush with the soil surface. After just a few weeks, the first shoots appear, which you can plant in the garden in spring.