"Rodger Whitlock" wrote in
message ...
On Thu, 6 Mar 2003 00:55:20 -0000, "Mike Hunter"
wrote:

Like Martin, I grew oriental poppies in the greenhouse last year because
a
friend with only a small garden had asked me to start some off for her.
Germination was reasonable for most varieties (we had about 8 different)
and
transplanting them was not a problem.

Tell us more. What size containers did you use for the sowing?
How did you manage to sow the seeds thinly enough?
I just used standard seed trays. I sprinkled the seed all over the surface
of the compost and they germinated by the hundred if not thousand. A few
months later and the whole lot was completely tray-bound, I just ripped
clumps off and planted them as they were. No thinning or anything. That's
probably a terrible way to treat them but so far they haven't complained and
are growing fine. I suspect I may have to do a bit of thining later when
they start getting crowded. I also transplanted a few as single plants into
cellular trays in the greenhouse and they are also still growing fine.
Martin