When to sow poppy seeds

I have been collecting seed heads from red poppies that are growing wild in wasteland and cracks in pavement.

If left alone those seeds will drop off on their own and be left to grow (or not grow) so does that mean I can put those seeds in my garden now? Or should I wait until next year?

 

You'll have thousands so sprinkle some now ( as Mother Nature would ) and sow some next early Spring as well. Then you will be sure of some,
Jenny

 

Always remember that the ideal time to sow seeds is when they're at their freshest ( bearing in mind of course which part of the world they're from, so you know whether they're hardy or not ) i.e. so, by sowing the poppies now they'll grow and flower a lot earlier than spring sown.
If you leave some till the spring to sow then as well, you'll be able to extend the flowering season by a couple of months.

 

Thanks guys, I will do that!

Presumably the ones you buy in a packet are nowhere near fresh so may as well plant them when it says to on the packet?

 

Poppies are one seed you don't have to worry about the freshness of, they evolved to take advantage of avalanches or any ground disturbance, they can stay dormant in the soil for 50 years or more.

That's what happened in the trenches, they were the first to colonise after the war...

 

Oh, I see! Yes, I thought they must grow quite easily as these ones were growing in cracks in tarmac at the edge of a car park!