On Sun, 1 Feb 2004 21:21:48 +0000 (UTC), "Franz Heymann"
wrote:


"Mel" wrote in message
...
I sowed poppy somniferum seeds last autumn and overwintered them in the
slightly-heated greenhouse (because I didn't know where I wanted to plant
them but I wanted an early start this year).

When can I plant them out into the ground outside?

Is it not illegal to cultivate opium poppies here?

Growing breadseed poppy (Papaver somniferum) always generates a lot of
discussion. The same plant that's the source of opium is also lovely
garden bloom (many varieties of stunning colors), and the seeds are
used in cooking. It is obviously legal to sell the seeds, and unless
one cultivates vast fields and mounts an operation to collect the
latex, only the daftest authority would interfere.

For Mel: they don't care for frost, so set out when the ground has
warmed thoroughly. And keep some in the greenhouse for comparison.
I've grown some in a hot, humid climate (SE Virginia) that did very
well, but can't find web info after a couple of brief searches that
describe ideal conditions.