THIBETAN POPPY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 42, 13 November 1936, Page 16

THIBETAN POPPY

Raise It From Seed When the Thibetan poppy, sometimes (though inaccurately) called the Himalayan poppy, was first introduced, it created finite a sensation. Its catalogue name, by the way, is Meconopsis Baileyil. The plants have a beautiful rostcte of soft green leaves, and arising ISin. to 2ft. above them—borne on graceful flower .stems —appear the most beajitiful blue Iceland, poppy-like flowers. In the centre of each flower is a mass of golden stamens. This plant likes a little shade and a damp soil, and if you have a cold frame, or can rig up a glass-covered protection, you can raise as many seedlings as you want for flowering next year. It is useless, however, to attempt a sowing right out of doors.

Prepare a riddled compost of equal parts loam and leaf-mould, with sufficient sand to ensure porosity, and sow in thumb pots. Place a lump of charcoal at the bottom of each for drainage, and, after filling fairly firmly to witbin a third of an inch of the top, -water through a rosed can with boiling water.

As soon as the soil drains and cools, sow five or six seeds equidistant in each pot, press them with the linger, but don’t cover. Cover the frame or box with canvas or sacking until the seedlings appear. Use rain water for watering if possible, and during the remainder of summer and autumn ventilate generously. On the advent of shorter, cooler days, a crack of air is sufficient. The seedlings should not be thinned. Planted all. together in late August, they will mingle and. become as one.