1914-2014

Yep, can remain viable for 50 year or more until the ground is disturbed

 

I think once the poppies are there, if they are allowed to set seed, they are most likely staying. But is that a bad thing? They are one of our native British wild flowers, and as long as they're somewhere that doesn't cause problems, it can only be a good thing. If land is being regularly used for a particular purpose and poppies shouldn't be there, then its the wrong place to sow them I'd say, but if its wasteland, meadowland, verges etc, I can't see how anyone would be worried about the presence of poppies or other native wildflowers.

 

I just *knew* you 'get me' on that one

"WOOF!"

Freddy my understanding of poppies is that they will self seed, in their chosen environment and without interference. I'm happy to be contradicted on this?

To "terminate" them, if they should be growing in an area that isn't 'required', then strimming them down would be a good means of stunting their vigour. They can only grow through their seed (is my understanding, anyway) so, if they don't get to the seed stage, they are, effectively, stunted!

The only issue I can think of is this: seed will lie in the ground, for some time, until the climate offers them their 'ideal' growing conditions: so, vigilance is then called for (if exterminating them is the ultimate aim?)

However: I am only a beginner gardener and my knowledge is limited

 

Zigs: QUITE!

 

My poppies appear to be the right ones.

Here is an article that I think explains why we should be sowing them, in addition to the remembrance theme. Here is an organic gardening charity explaining the best way to eradicate this native wild flower.

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicweeds/weed_information/weed.php?id=34

Its talking about the research that's been done into the best way to eradicate them. In one experiment they achieve a 9% decline rate over 6 years just by ploughing them in.

So with lots of research into how to get rid of our natural flora, its no wonder we are now facing a crisis with significant loss of diversity, which is not only really sad, but is technically and practically a nightmare for lots of creatures that depend on the flowers, and for us, that depend on the creature populations to pollinate our food crops.

Quite aside from that, and going back to the original theme of remembrance for the centenary of WW1, I'm kind of wondering what those chaps died for if our country is knackered anyway. If we could get the TTH out and go back 100 years, snatch one of those soldiers, and land him in the countryside today. Would he recognise it?

I'm reminded of a song, not quite that old, with the opening line "Where have all the flowers gone...". Well now I know. Loads of research has been done into the best way to get rid of them. Maybe we should put some of them back.

 

That's great SHEAL thank you for that x

 

Your welcome Doug.

 

Just for a bit of clarification, cos I is fik. What are the best conditions for sowing Poppy seed? And, what are the best bed-mates in terms of wildflowers? Thing is, there's a verge down the road that's around 20ft x 200ft that currently is your typical roadside verge...grass, a few wild-flowers and a fair measure of weeds, and I was thinking that it would be a good spot to make an impression

 

Well ... Can I make a suggestion....... If your going to be sowing seed in grass verges etc ( with permission) you need to be contacting the owners of the land fairly soon papaver rhoas is the correct variety to be sowing..

If your growing poppies in a pot ... For the garden ...."..."...I believe it's the thought that counts more than the variety....as I don't think you will be as successful with the wild variety compared to a cultivated variety

 

So who's going to get involved
How are we going to get this idea out to the general population .

Via the press?

Facebook
Twitter

Other forums

Please let me no what you're plans are

 

I've been in touch with the Secretary of our British Legion, he's signing up to GC so he can join in the thread.

 

Well that's good for the project and good for gardeners corner as will be another member

 

Pretty sure Bookface already has quite a following (but, I've deleted my account, so I could be wrong). In which case, Twitter won't be far behind. Other forums? Well, you could do a search on Google and see what it throws back.

I think the question I would be more inclined to ask on here is: How are GC'ers doing on the collecting seed front?

Without seed, the plan will flop