They Call It Poppy Love--and Time’s Now

Question: Is now a good time to plant California poppies? How do I plant them? S.W., Santa Ana

Answer: The state flower of California, the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is a short-lived perennial that is often treated as an annual. Now is an excellent time to plant them.

Although you will see many people planting them in spring, Nov. 15 through March 15 is optimum.

California poppies germinate with winter rains, bloom in the cooler months of spring and set seed in late summer and then die. Keep in mind that once

established, exploding seed pods will distribute seedlings in places you might not want them.

California poppies grow 12 or more inches and require minimal care. They prefer full sun and some watering during the growing season.

Sow where you would like them to grow, as they do not transplant well. Older plants tend to become leggy; plan on giving them a severe pruning or start new plants.

Here are some guidelines for planting California poppies and other wildflowers:

* Choose a spot in full sun. They look good growing in a natural grassland setting, on a sunny hillside or in the middle zone of a mixed country border. Try planting them with lupines, buttercups, deep red shirley poppies, scarlet flax, orange calendulas and with various bulbs.

* Control weeds.

* Carefully prepare the soil. Rake the soil to form shallow grooves.

To assure even distribution of your wildflower seeds, mix the seed with four times its volume of sand and then broadcast by the handful. Next rake the seed lightly into the top half-inch or so of soil and tamp it down.

Avoid casting the seeds under trees (especially pine, oak, walnut and eucalyptus), as the poppies will struggle, do poorly and be short-lived.

* Protect seeds and seedlings from birds. Bird netting is a good choice.

* Keep seeds moist until they sprout, which is especially during drying winds. After they sprout, water whenever the soil dries out to a depth of 2 inches.

* Fertilize properly. Feed twice during the growing season with a complete fertilizer.

* Give proper post-bloom care. When plants have dried and dropped their seed, cut them back to 3 to 6 inches high. Don’t trim back before they’ve had a chance to set their seed.

Have a problem in your yard? University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners are here to help. These trained and certified horticultural volunteers are dedicated to extending research-based, scientifically accurate information to the public about home horticulture and pest management. They are involved with a variety of outreach programs, including the UCCE Master Garden hotline, which provides answers to specific questions. You can reach the hotline at (714) 708-1646 or send e-mail to ucmastergardeners@yahoo.com. Calls and e-mail are picked up daily and are generally returned within two to three days.