Only perennial plants need regular pruning. This also includes some varieties of the popular garden poppy. Some of them are even suitable as cut flowers for the vase. However, the classic corn poppy, also known as wild poppy, is not one of them.
Poppies for the vase should be cut before the flower is fully open
Cut poppy seeds for the vase
To keep your poppies in the vase for a long time, it is best to cut them early in the morning. Look for buds or flowers that aren't fully open yet. Corn poppies fade after just one day, other types last a little longer. If you briefly hold the stalks of the freshly cut flowers under hot water, you can enjoy the blossom for longer.
Winter pruning of perennial poppies
If you have decided to plant Turkish poppies, plan on pruning your poppies in the fall. Cut back the above-ground parts of the plant to about 10 cm. You can use the clippings as winter protection. If it is not enough, then cover your poppies with a thick layer of leaves or brushwood.
Not only frost can damage the poppy, but also too much moisture. Water your poppies moderately during flowering and not at all in winter. Also, make sure your plants don't get too much rain. The foliage or brushwood layer also protects them from this. The Icelandic poppy also belongs to the perennial varieties.
The essentials in brief:
- cut for the vase as buds as possible
- Turkish poppy is best suited as a cut flower
- put it in hot water for a short time to prolong its service life
- autumn pruning for perennial varieties
- Winter protection against frost and moisture
tips and tricks
Turkish poppy is most suitable as a cut flower. Cut it when it has buds and place it briefly in hot water. The flowers last up to three weeks.