Cinda: I do save seed .
I mulch - compost in the fall and when I sow seeds I just clear the mulch from the area where I sow.
If seeds get covered they wont germinate.
If you have mulch down and snow on top of it,clear both befor sowing. Seeds need contact with bare ground.Dont cover seeds with earth just press into the ground.
STARTING ANNUAL POPPIES
BECAUSE THEY RESEED THEMSELVES THEY ACT LIKE PERENNIALS.tHAT IS THEY WILL COMEBACK IN THE SAME PLACE THE NEXT YEAR IF SEEDPODS ARE ALLOWED TO SPRINKLE FROM THE SEASON BEFORE.
HERE'S HOW TO START :
FIND THE PLACE IN YOUR GARDEN WHERE YOU WANT TO SEE POPPIES BLOOM (THESE CAN BECOME 4 FEET HIGH)
MAKE SURE THERE IS NO MULCH OR WEEDS IN THE SPOT. CLEAN THE AREA AND SCRATCH THE CROUND.(NO DIGGING TO PLANT SEEDS THEY MUST BE EXPOSED TO COLD AND LIGHT)
poppy seeds are direct sown in cold weather january to early march.
SCATTER SEEDS ON SCRATCHED AREA AND PRESS INTO THE GROUND.
DO NOT COVER WITH DIRT OR MULCH .POPPIES NEED COLD AND LIGHT TO GERMINATE.
I START LOOKING FOR SPROUTS IN APRIL.
DONT BE DISCOURAGED IF YOU DONT SEE ANYTHING VISIBLE UNTIL REALLY WARM WEATHER COMES.
THESE ARE VERY EARLY SPROUTS
THIS WAS TAKEN APRIL 6 ZONE 6a
MANY PEOPLE LOOSE THEIR CROP BECAUSE THEY THINK THE SPROUTS ARE WEEDS.
NO WEEDING IN THE AREA UNTIL PLANTS ATE 4 LEAVES OR TALLER.
THIS WAS A FEW WEEKS LATER
AND THIS WAS EARLY MAY WHEN WEATHER IS WARM IN THE 70'S AND 80'S AND NIGHTS ARE IN THE 50'S
THESE WERE FROM MAY
THEY ARE CLUMPED AND BLUE GREEN WITH JAGGED EDGES