POPPIES ARE a diverse and gloriously beautiful lot. Alas, they won't grow in Kingston or on the coastal area. Too hot. In Jamaica, only gardeners living in cooler places such as Mandeville or high in the Blue Mountains can grow these beauties in their yard; there, it's a cinch.
Poppies grow easily from seed. Be sure to select the correct species for an annual or perennial planting. They are known for self-sowing, sometimes with abandon, and you may find seedlings popping up all around the garden bed, but they are not invasive. The seedlings are easy to pull up if they land in unwanted places.
Poppies bloom profusely under cool growing conditions. When temperatures rise, poppy plants tend to bloom only sporadically.
Select a site in full sun, one that receives at least six hours of direct, but not harsh, sun on a daily basis.
Prepare the soil first. Poppies grow in almost any kind of soil with good drainage. Waterlogged soil, especially during the rainy seasons (May and November), is one of the main reasons some perennials such as Iceland poppies fail to survive from one year to the next. If your soil has poor drainage, amend it by digging in a generous amount of compost.
Mix the tiny poppy seeds with some sand to make spacing easier. Sow thinly where you want the plants to grow in the bed. If you plan to make your own "wildflower mix" for a small meadow planting, mix three to four parts sand and one part seed to help you keep the seeds separated.
Important: Do not bury the seeds! Poppies germinate best with some sunlight. Instead, cover them with a very thin layer of fine soil and water the area. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, until seeds germinate. All going well, expect germination in 10-15 days after sowing.
When you grow annual poppies, sow more than once during spring to extend the colour season in the garden.
A HEALTHY BLOOM
Poppies are seldom bothered by pests or diseases, and this resistance is advantageous because they often react adversely to being sprayed with chemicals. The best solution is prevention. Space plants so they have good air circulation. Do not over water. Plant them in soil with good drainage. Aphids may attack young plants in bud. Wash them off with a hard spray of water from the garden hose or, in severe cases, use an insecticide soap spray.
