Expert: C.L. Fornari - 9/18/2006

Question
i look after a park which is very bland
i want to have some colour next summer
i was thinking loads of poppys
perhaps yuo could advise me
i understand sowing poppy seeds is a matter of scattering the seed
thats what i want as i am restriced from digging
how and when do i sow  and is there anything
else i can sow which will blast the village with colour  cheers jak

Answer
Jak,
There are many types of poppies: some annual, some biennial (grow one year, bloom the next and then they die) and some perennial.  You can sow all poppy seeds directly on the surface of the soil, and fall sowing is recommended.  Keep soil moist as they germinate if possible, and weed other germinating seeds that may take over the area, also if possible.

Another seed you can sow on the surface of the soil in the spring include: Allysum  = short, fragrant and white flowers - pink and purple varieties also available, but delicate, not bold flowers. Most biennials grow from surface sown seed and once they are happy in an area come back year after year,  The first year there will just be foliage, however.  Some are: Lychnis -also called Rose Campion, Verbascum and Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

I hope this helps!
C.L.