Topic: Tibetan Poppies

[emmy1978]

I have beentrying to germinate Tibetan blue poppy (Mecanopsis betonicifolia) for about 4 years now. Never even come close. I have tried everything, from putting them in the fridge, somewhere warm, dark, light, shady. I've lightly covered them and I've left them uncovered. I have some seeds left from last year I've just found (whilst laying all my seeds out on floor so I can admire them properly)
I'm going to have one last try and was hoping that someone here may have succeeded with them and holds the secret!!  ???

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've got pots of these from various sources sitting in a coldframe; we'll see what, if anything, emerges as the weather warms up!

[emmy1978]

 :'( No-one? Well, if you lot don't know then it's a blimmin lost cause.

[sarah]

i tried some a couple of years ago from some seed i bought on ebay. i followed instructions; loved; nurtured; spoke nice to them; begged.  not a single germination.  they are pretty temperamental i guess.  having siad that i have seen some really nice ones growing in national trust gardens and places so it cant be impossible. good luck. ;)

[Andy H]

Some thigs just don`t seem to work do they.
I get a few seeds from Jungle seeds for a laugh!

Some work some don`t.

Got 1 out of 6 walnut sized seeds to work for a Chilean wine palm. (about 20 inches high now but SLOW)

just got more in post this week to try!!!!!

[ACE]

If they are like most poppy seeds, they need longer daylight hours to germinate. lay some of them on the top of the pot, do not cover.

Our native poppys grow when they are disturbed, so try threatening and swearing at them ;D

OOPS nearly forgot, get a book on tibetan swearwords, just in case they do not understand english.

[emmy1978]

Our native poppys grow when they are disturbed, so try threatening and swearing at them ;D
OOPS nearly forgot, get a book on tibetan swearwords, just in case they do not understand english.

 ;D ;D ;D
Have already tried the swearing in English, so will ask nice man in Free Tibet shop for some juicy swear words. He doesn't know how to germinate them either, thought I was bit mad for asking him I think.  ;D

[Tee Gee]

I have never had any success either so I have taken the bull by the horns this year.

I theorised that in their native landscape the seed must not just get cold, I think they must get frozen!

Last night I put the packet in the freezer and sowed them today.

Meaning they were in the freezer for about 12hours, they are now on the bench rather than hotbed or propagator meaning the temperatures will fluctuate but never get too warm.

So its fingers crossed  8)

[shirlton]

Ive even bought the plant from the nursery and lost it during the first year

[emmy1978]

I theorised that in their native landscape the seed must not just get cold, I think they must get frozen!
Last night I put the packet in the freezer and sowed them today.

Aha! Brill idea, I have tried putting them in fridge prior to soing but never the freezer. That's where these ones are going!! Good luck TeeGee and keep me posted!

Ive even bought the plant from the nursery and lost it during the first year

That does not bode well! Moody little things aren't they!!  ::)

[Deb P]

I tried several times too, never had any luck either, but remember asking one of the specialist growers at GWL one year if he had any tips. He said you have to use very fresh seed, and sow it straightaway- probably why only specialist growers with loads of plants have success?!  ???

I've given up now, still love the blue flowers though. :-\

[valmarg]

Years ago Anne Swithinbank did a series on TV on various families of flowers.  One of the programmes was on the poppy family.  The chap that co-presented the series worked at a garden in Scotland that holds the national collection of mecanopsis.  He reckoned that the best way to germinate seed was to cover the compost in the tray with a layer of coarse grit, then just scatter the seed on the grit, and leave it outside over winter.  He also reckoned that the seed 'came up like cress' using this method.  They would, of course, have been using fresh seed.

I've had success using this method, but it has been with fresh seed that I've collected from plants in the garden.

If anyone wants to have a go with the fresh seed I could let them have some after they have flowered, and the seedpods ripened.  The original plant I bought was meconopsis x Sheldonii.  It is a quite a deep blue.

valmarg

[froglets]

Emmy,  are you using seed from the same plant each year?  It might be that your particular plant itn't producing viable seed.  If that's not relevant, ignore me.

[sawfish]

The best way to germinate seed was to cover the compost in the tray with a layer of coarse grit, then just scatter the seed on the grit, and leave it outside over winter.  He also reckoned that the seed 'came up like cress' using this method.

This sounds like how you germinate Hellebores. I'll give it a try.

[emmy1978]

No froglets, I've never managed to germinate the seeds, let alone grow the plant!! :'( :'( :'( Good point though, i hope when I do succeed, that doesn't happen!  :(

[simon404]

I've managed to get them to germinate in the past using fine composted bark as the sowing medium  :)

[emmy1978]

Brill Simon, any other requirements or just the bark? They are definately the most difficult plant to germinate I've ever come across, which just makes me want to grow them even more.  ::)