Seeds, California Poppies Mission Bells (West Coast Seeds)

Plant Mission Bells California poppy seeds in spring for summer blooms. Sow them in the fall, and they will be among the first flowers in bloom the following spring. California poppies are extremely rugged and drought resistant, so they are ideal for xeriscaping - and look splendid in large plantings. Deer won't bother with these tough flowers, either. This species is actually a short-lived perennial, but is treated as an annual. They will self sow to some degree, but the range of colours diminishes from year to year, so fresh seed is a good idea.

Hardy Annual

Timing
Direct sow outdoors in spring after the local last frost date. Otherwise direct sow in autumn. It can be started indoors, but does not like being transplanted.

Starting
Sow seeds 5mm (¼”) deep, spaced 20-25cm (8-10″) apart. Seeds should sprout in 14-21 days.