Other Years

2010
March 29: I started 12 cells.
May 16: I set out some seedlings.
June 17: Doing very well.
July 2: First flowers!
 
2009
April 2: I started 18 cells using seed from 2004.
4: The seeds are sending down rootlets.
23: Thinned.
May 24: I set them out.
July 4: Coming along very well.
10: First flower.
August 3: Doing fine.
18: Many seed pods, not ripe yet, and still a few flowers.
24: I collected seeds for next year.
 
2008
March 24: I started 18 cells using seed from 2005 and many seeds from 2004.
28: Many sprouts.
31: Thinned.
May 10: I set out 6 plants. They had small root systems.
11: I added 4 more.
24: I think only 4 are left.
 
2006
March 28: I planted 18 cells using seed from 2004 and the bit I have from 2005.
April 1: Sprouts.
April 14: Thinned.
May 22: I set out my 17 plants. They are perhaps too close together. I gave some cutworm collars.
August 1: Doing well. The plants are only small or medium sized, due the the extremely dry weather, but they have flowers. I stopped deadheading today.
 
2005
April 1:  I sowed 18 cells with many seeds per cell.
3:  The seeds, which are on the surface, are germinating.
19:  Thinned.
~17:  I set them out.
June 2:  Several have died, mysteriously, and only 1 seems to be doing well.
19:  Not much change.
July 4:  1 flower.
19:  One plant has been flowering prolifically, but no other plant has flowered at all.
October 2:  Not as good as most years, with many dying before flowering.

Shirley Poppies, 2003

2004
March 24:  I seeded 18 cells using mostly seed from 2003.
29:  Sprouts.
May 18:  I set out 15 plants.
June 23:  Doing well.
July 12:  First flower.
October 18:  A good display in the summer.
 
2003
April 5:  I seeded 18 cells using seed from 2000 in one 9-pak and from 2002 in the other.
8:  Many sprouts from the 2000 seeds, none from the 2002s.
9:  I moved clumps of tiny sprouts from the 2000 cells to the other pak.
20:  Moving the new sprouts was not successful, but moving larger sprouts later worked ok.
May 17:  I set out 19 plants from 17 cells.   They were small, but large enough to go out safely, I think.
July 3:  First 3 flowers, with many more to come.
29:  Still many flowers.   I have been busy deadheading.
August 26:  I collected seeds, and cleared the plants away.
October 16:  Their bed is full of volunteers, that have sprouted about 6 months early!
 
2002
April 21: I started 9 cells, using seed from 2000 and a very few seeds that were purchased.
26: 1 sprout, and roots can be seen growing from some other seeds.
April 28: Many sprouts.
30: Thinned.
June 4:  Divided to give 19 plants.   They are not big enough to go out yet.
July 27:  3 plants remain.   First flower today.
September 8:  Still some flowers, although I have not deadheaded.
 
2001
May 18: I sowed 5 rows, using seed collected last year.
May 27: Sprouts!
June 13: No sprouts remain. I don't know what happened to them.
August 19: A first flower from a plant that started later.
 

Shirley Poppy, 2003

2000
April 17: I planted 9 cells, with many seeds per cell, and a sprinkle of vermiculite on top.
20: Sprouting seeds can be seen.
May 22: I set out 9 plants, and sprinkled some seed in the same area.
July 13: First flower.
August 8: I am letting some of the plants go to seed, whilst continuing to deadhead others. They have made a lovely display since they started flowering.
 
1993
September 4: Some blossoms remain.