Poppy Summer Breeze Cultural Information

Plug Production

Sowing/Media: Use a well-drained, disease-free, peat-based plug medium with a pH of 5.5 – 5.8 and EC <0.75 mmhos (saturated paste). Sow at least 2 seeds per cell. Cover seed lightly with coarse vermiculite if needed after sowing.

Germination (Stages 1 and 2): Keep medium uniformly moist, not saturated. Soil temperature should be 65 – 68°F. Keep light levels <1500 footcandles. Germination time is 7 – 10 days.

Stage 3: Soil temperature should be 62 – 68°F, no higher if possible. Use a good wet/dry moisture cycle, but avoid too wet or too dry. Light levels should be around 3000 footcandles. Close shade curtains if light levels and temperature get higher than desired. Poppies are very sensitive to high light and high salts. Feed every other watering with 100 – 150 ppm N from 15-5-15, 17-5-17, or 13-2-13. Keep media pH 5.5 – 5.8 and media EC 1.0 – 1.5 mmhos (saturated paste).

Stage 4: Soil temperature can be lowered to 60 – 62°F. Maintain light levels around 3000 footcandles, use a wet/dry moisture cycle but avoid wilt, and feed mainly with 13-2-13 as needed.

Plant Growth Regulators: None needed. If grown under low light levels, plugs may get stretchy and floppy. Some growers will use a sprench of A-Rest (2 – 3 ppm) or Bonzi (1 – 2 ppm) as germination is finishing to prevent excessive floppiness. Do your own trials with this method to avoid overdosing. No sprench is needed if growing cool.

Crop Time: 5 – 6 weeks for 512 plugs, 6 – 7 weeks for 288 plugs, depending on temperature, light levels, and number of seeds per cell.

Common Problems: Root rots, lower yellow leaves – too dry or too low feed, poor roots – too wet or not enough seeds per cell.

Growing on to finish

Container Size: Large cell packs to 4-inch pots

Media: Transplant into a well-drained, disease-free, peat-based growing mix with pH of 5.5 – 5.8 and EC <1.5 mmhos (saturated paste).

Temperatures: Keep soil temperatures on the cool side. Poppies grow best at 50 – 55 F. If growing during warmer weather, put plants in coolest part of greenhouse.

Light: Keep light levels 3000 – 5000 footcandles, but use shade when growing in warmer weather.

Irrigation and Fertilization: Practice a good wet/dry moisture cycle, but too wet or too dry. Feed 1x/week with 150 ppm N from 17-5-17, 15-5-15, or 13-2-13. Keep media pH 5.5 – 5.8 and media EC 1.0 – 1.5 mmhos (saturated paste).

Plant Growth Regulators: Spray with B-Nine (2500 ppm) as needed. Poppies do not generally need plant growth regulators, especially if grown under cool temperatures.

Common Problems: Root rots, lower yellow leaves – too dry or too low media EC, burnt leaves – too high light with too high temperatures.

Crop Time: 10 – 14 weeks, longer if growing cool. Sell packs green for best performance.