Poppies and drying
 

Hi folks. I managed to grow a lot of the giant Blackish Peony Poppy
from Sarah Raven's company. Also some lovely red frilly edged ones as
well. I had the seeds in a packet for over 2 years so was surprised
when they did grow. (Building works stopped me planting.) I had a
wonderful but heavily packed area of poppies. Unfortunately people
have been swiping lots of the heads so I want to dry some to replant
next year but don't know if I can just cut the heads and hang them to
dry or have to wait until the heads are dry. The rate they are
disappearing I will few left. Tia.

Temperance

The ones I have purchased comercially for dried display are still "closed"
ie, the little pepperpot openings have not opened yet. But when dry they are
still full of viable seed. So i'd say pick the biggest and dry them out
slowly and you should have plenty of seed for autumn or next spring sowing.

Les

"Temprance" wrote in message
...
Hi folks. I managed to grow a lot of the giant Blackish Peony Poppy
from Sarah Raven's company. Also some lovely red frilly edged ones as
well. I had the seeds in a packet for over 2 years so was surprised
when they did grow. (Building works stopped me planting.) I had a
wonderful but heavily packed area of poppies. Unfortunately people
have been swiping lots of the heads so I want to dry some to replant
next year but don't know if I can just cut the heads and hang them to
dry or have to wait until the heads are dry. The rate they are
disappearing I will few left. Tia.

Temperance

On Mon, 16 Aug 2004 20:49:53 +0100, "Les &/or Claire"
wrote:

The ones I have purchased comercially for dried display are still "closed"
ie, the little pepperpot openings have not opened yet. But when dry they are
still full of viable seed. So i'd say pick the biggest and dry them out
slowly and you should have plenty of seed for autumn or next spring sowing.

Les

Thanks a lot. I suspected that from seeing my friends dried display.
Temperance

"Temprance" wrote in message
...
Hi folks. I managed to grow a lot of the giant Blackish Peony Poppy
from Sarah Raven's company. Also some lovely red frilly edged ones as
well. I had the seeds in a packet for over 2 years so was surprised
when they did grow. (Building works stopped me planting.) I had a
wonderful but heavily packed area of poppies. Unfortunately people
have been swiping lots of the heads so I want to dry some to replant
next year but don't know if I can just cut the heads and hang them to
dry or have to wait until the heads are dry. The rate they are
disappearing I will few left. Tia.

Temperance


I have had no trouble cutting my green poppy heads and drying them out in
large paper envelopes

"nambucca" wrote in message
...

"Temprance" wrote in message
...
Hi folks. I managed to grow a lot of the giant Blackish Peony Poppy
from Sarah Raven's company. Also some lovely red frilly edged ones as
well. I had the seeds in a packet for over 2 years so was surprised
when they did grow. (Building works stopped me planting.) I had a
wonderful but heavily packed area of poppies. Unfortunately people
have been swiping lots of the heads so I want to dry some to replant
next year but don't know if I can just cut the heads and hang them to
dry or have to wait until the heads are dry. The rate they are
disappearing I will few left. Tia.

Temperance


I have had no trouble cutting my green poppy heads and drying them out in
large paper envelopes


Did they grow the following year? I picked some that were green and small,
put them in a small cup inside to finish drying so they wouldnt get moldy.
Then when they were dry, I shook the seeds out. There werent very many and
they looked a lot smaller (about half of the size) than others I have saved
from pods that dried on the plant.

Dwayne