When to plant poppy seeds in your garden for bold beautiful flowers

If you're wondering when to plant poppy seeds (and it's unsurprising if so: poppies are one of the top garden trends of the year), you've come to the right place.

The low-maintenance poppy was the unsung hero at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show –⁠ and it has, too, been dubbed this year's 'it' flower after popping up on the Instagram feeds of several celebrities.

When you consider the fact it's a) beautiful, and b) suited to beginners and gardening experts alike, the popularity of the poppy makes a lot of sense. Still, it's every bit as vital you know when to plant poppy seeds as how to grow them.

And, thankfully for you, we have all the answers...

When to plant poppy seeds

If you're wondering when to plant poppy seeds for a garden filled with striking red blooms, you'd best act fast: now –⁠ as in, October –⁠ is actually one of the best times to start sowing these little beauties.

'In the UK, poppy seeds are generally best planted in early spring or in late autumn,' says Christopher O'Donoghue, one of the co-directors at Gardens Revived, stressing that most horticulturalists tend to sow their poppy seeds in October.

'Autumn is the best time of year to plant annuals in your garden,' agrees Morris Hankinson, the director of Hopes Grove Nurseries.

'It’s a sweet spot when the soil is still warm so the new roots will develop quickly and get your new flowers established.'

Best places to buy poppy seeds

Now that you've figured out when to plant poppy seeds, it's a good idea to stock up on some. 

We recommend that you try shopping from the following stockists:

• Crocus has a wide variety of poppy seeds, which means you can find the colour and style to suit your garden perfectly
• Thompson-Morgan, too, has a lovely selection of poppy seeds, from the traditional red varieties through to the more unusual hues
• Sarah Raven is also a great spot to shop a variety of poppy seeds, whether you want the classic wild red poppy, the ruffled Californian poppies, or something completely different
• Amazon actually has a surprisingly good selection of poppy seeds, too, which is ideal if you need to get your mitts on some very quickly (all hail that same-day delivery option!)

Once you've stocked up on poppy seeds, all that's left to do is plant them. But, if you want them to bloom next spring, you'll need to work quickly and get them in the ground before those November frosts...

FAQs

Meet the experts

Christopher O'Donoghue

A gardener with over a decade of experience under his belt, Christopher set up Gardens Revived with his brother, Andrew, in 2018  to create a thriving family business. Together, they have worked on residential gardens, listed buildings and gardens, flower shows and large estates with some exceeding 70 acres – many with historical significance.

Morris Hankinson

Morris Hankinson is the founder and managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the UK’s only specialist grower-retailer of hedging plants, which he established after graduating with a Commercial Horticulture Degree from Writtle College, Essex in 1992.

Of course, if you are not able to plant your poppy seeds straight away, don't despair, as you can also start them under cover in March.  All you'll have to do is transplant your little seedlings to their final position in your garden once the risk of frost has passed. 

Good luck...