Poppy 'Bowling Ball'

Bowling Ball Poppy (Papaver somniferum)

Unleash playful drama in your garden with the Bowling Ball Poppy! These delightful Papaver somniferum poppies self-sow to return each year, gracing your space with flamboyant blooms and distinctive sea-green, jagged foliage. An absolute essential for any cottage garden, Bowling Ball Poppies are also fantastic for attracting all kinds of pollinators; you'll often see bees jostling for their golden pollen. Plant them amongst your vegetables to boost pollination, or harvest their long, sturdy stems for stunning cut flower arrangements indoors. After the blooms fade, the large, decorative seed pods provide excellent visual interest for your garden or can be dried for captivating additions to dried flower bouquets.

DETAILS:

 
QTY: 100

TYPE: Annual
 
SITE: Full sun

DEPTH: Surface; Do not cover

GERMINATION: 14-21 days at 16-18°C

HEIGHT: 3 - 4'

MATURITY: 80 - 90 Days

SPACING: 9 - 12"

PINCH: No

HOW TO GROW:

Direct seed (recommended): Sow seeds directly outdoors in late fall or early spring when there is still a chance of frost or light snow. Poppies generally do not transplant well due to their delicate root systems. Gently rake the tiny seeds into the soil surface; do not bury them as they need light to germinate. Water gently after sowing.

Transplanting (alternative, use caution): If you choose to start seeds indoors, sow them into compostable pots (like peat or coir pots) 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost. This minimizes root disturbance during transplanting. The seeds are very small, so bottom watering is recommended until seedlings emerge to avoid washing them away. Harden off seedlings for 7-10 days before transplanting the entire biodegradable pot into the garden after all danger of frost is past.

Soil Preference: Poppies thrive in full sun and prefer well-drained soil. They are not particularly fussy about soil fertility and can tolerate average to poor soils. Avoid heavy, waterlogged soils, which can lead to root rot.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist during the germination period and while seedlings are establishing. Once mature, poppies are relatively drought-tolerant. Water them deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Avoid overhead watering, which can damage delicate blooms.

Fertilizing: Poppies generally do not require much fertilizer. In fact, too much nitrogen can lead to lush foliage at the expense of blooms. If your soil is very poor, you can amend it with a small amount of compost before planting. No additional fertilizing is typically needed once plants are established.

Self-Seeding: Although most common poppies (e.g., Shirley Poppies, California Poppies) are annuals, they readily self-seed in favorable conditions, often giving the appearance of perennial growth in subsequent years.