What: Gardeners who did not plant their Shirley Poppy seeds last fall can do so now while the temperatures are still cool. This strain, “Falling in Love,” is one of the many delicately colored Shirley Poppies that are now available. Seeds are tiny, so it is wise to rough up the soil first, dampen then scatter the seed, tamping them down with your foot. Alternately, the seeds can be mixed with sand, then “dusted” onto the damp soil using a colander. The Falling in Love variety features a special array of color combinations, including peach, crimson, rose-red and white with a red picotee edge. Shirley poppies are annuals, but if left intact and allowed to dry out, will reseed. Seeds can be purchased and sown in the fall as these seeds will benefit from our mild Pacific Northwest winter. The original plants were found in Shirley, England, in the late 1800s and today we are fortunate to have numerous strains of seeds available.
Size: These poppies grow 2 to 3 feet.
Where: They need light to germinate and sun thereafter.
Check your local nurseries for seeds if you plan to plant right away. Otherwise, wait until September/October to purchase. These seeds need cool weather to germinate.
— Sandra Schumacher
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