Papaver papaver is a bright, showy herb of the Poppy family. The word "poppy" in relation to it is rarely used because of the long-standing ban on the cultivation of poppies, although this flower is undoubtedly an excellent decoration for any garden or flower bed.
Botanical description
Papaver papaver is an annual plant, representing a single flower with a smooth stem up to 90 cm. It has medium leaves in the form of cloves and large, double flowers with numerous whole petals. Flowers can be of different shades: from white to maroon and even black. There are varieties with strongly dissected petals resembling carnation. The fruit of the flower is a box with small mesh-mesh seeds.
Find out what makes poppy seedwood different from opium (sleeping pill) and which species cannot be grown on the site.
Spread
Papaya pion-shaped is widespread in temperate and subtropical regions. It grows in Europe, Asia, North America, is often found in the Caucasus.
In its natural environment it grows both on the plains and in the desert terrain. Feels great on the mountain slopes.
Did you know? Even the ancient Egyptians noticed the beneficial properties of poppy. They purposely grew it on plantations and used it as a painkiller, calling it a "sleep potion."
Varieties of papaver peony
- "Salsa". Stems - gray-green, erect, with a waxy coating. Flowers - large, densely double, in the form of a pale salmon ball.
- "Dance Fantasy". Stems - gray-green, erect, with a waxy coating. Flowers - dense, in the form of balls of different colors, with a diameter of up to 10 cm.
- "Tango". Stems - gray-green, erect, with a waxy coating. Flowers - dense, in the form of balls of dark-violet color, with a diameter up to 10 cm.
- "Mamba". Stems - gray-green, erect, with a waxy coating. Flowers - dense, in the form of balls of white and cream color, with a diameter up to 15 cm.
Growing at home
Peoniferous papaver is not particularly difficult to grow. You must create the right conditions for the growth of the flower and do not forget to water and feed.
Choosing a landing site
For planting you need to choose a sunny and bright area. The papaver pionavid feels very well under the open sunshine. It is necessary to plant in a well-heated soil (8-10 degrees Celsius) and immediately to a permanent place of residence. Macs have a strong taproot, which is easily damaged when digging and transplanting. Flowers rather cold-resistant and do not need additional shelter.
Maki are well combined with other types of garden plants, such as: phlox, escholcium, Oriental hellebore, common liverworm, gypsophila, cuff and gelenium.
Soil and fertilizer
Papaver papaver is not picky about soil acidity, as long as it is light, crumbly and well drained. Periodically, the soil should be loosened, while removing grown weeds and trying not to hurt the roots of poppies. 
Macs are very responsive to dressing. It should be carried out in early spring and during the budding of plants. Soluble complex mineral fertilizers will give the stems and leaves more juiciness, and flowers - color saturation.
Watering and moisture
Peonifer papaver should be watered regularly, the volume of water and the frequency of irrigation depend on the ambient temperature. In the hot season should be watered at least once a week.
It should be borne in mind that the plant reacts poorly to stagnant water. For poppies, a little dry is better than an excess of moisture.
Breeding
The plant propagates by seeds and cuttings.
Seeds
Poppies are planted in early spring in open ground without seedlings, because they do not tolerate the transplant and may begin to hurt. Seeds of papaver pionovidnogo very small, so for planting them better to mix with the sand, so as not to get too thick shoots.
The plant loves loose homogeneous soil, it grows especially well in sandy areas. Clay soil may be too dense for seeds and they will not germinate. Before planting, the ground is abundantly moistened and the poppy is sown superficially, not sprinkling with soil. From above, once again spray a little with water from a spray bottle. 
Shoots appear on the seventh day after planting, and flowering can be expected in 1.5 months. After the emergence of seedlings they are thinned, leaving a distance of 7-10 cm between plants. If you leave a dense planting, the poppy will grow frail, the peduncle will not be able to hold the flower, and the peony effect will not come out.
Papaver papaver perfectly reproduces itself. In the fall, he sheds his seeds, and they are scattered in the area around the poppy. The seeds are very light, and the wind can carry them a fairly large distance from the plant itself. After that, in the spring, just thin out the shoots.
Important! Withered flowers are best removed immediately, not allowing the seed boxes to start or attract the intruders to the garden. This simple technique will allow the flowering time to be almost doubled.
Cuttings
Lateral shoots or rosettes that grow in early spring or late summer are more suitable for planting. They need to be carefully separated and transplanted from the main plant (until the autumn). After rooting the cuttings, it is necessary to grow for another two years.
In order to increase the survival rate of the plant, it is possible to sustain the cutting in the solution of the “Concentrator” preparation. And after planting, water the plant with the remnants of the solution. 
Planting requires a deep enough fertile soil layer, since the poppy has a tap root system. At the chosen place, it is necessary to loosen the soil and prepare a hole with dimensions of 30 x 30 cm. Add a little garden compost to the planting hole, and after planting, water the plants a little. Do not allow excessive watering!
Caring for papavera
Papaver papaver - very unpretentious flower that does not require special care.
How to care for poppy seeds
In order for the plant to grow well and be pleased with its beautiful appearance, it is necessary to water it in time, at the same time gently weeding the ground around poppies and removing weeds. A day after watering, you can loosen the soil a little. And do not forget to feed poppies in the spring with complex mineral fertilizers.
Possible difficulties in growing
When growing a flower, you may encounter such problems:
- excessive watering can lead to rotting of the roots of the plant;
- lack of top dressing - the reason for the weakening of the poppies and the appearance of small and less bright flowers;
- thick planting and weeds lead to shallow plants;
- wilted flowers that are not cleaned on time can cause pests.
Seed collection
Poppy seeds are harvested after yellowing the leaves of the plant. The process consists in collecting bolls, removing seeds and packaging them in varieties. It is better to store seeds in paper bags or envelopes in a dry and cool place. 
Green and ripe poppy boxes No pre-seed preparation required. Moreover, papaver papaver well multiplies on its own, sowing on loose and fertile soil.
However, in order to grow poppy seeds of a specific color, it is better to purchase seeds in a specialty store.
Did you know? In Germany, there is an original wedding tradition: poppy seeds are poured into the bride's shoes so that there are many children in the future family.
Pests, diseases and prevention
Papaver papaver is not very prone to the appearance of diseases and pests. Sometimes poppy is exposed to verticillous fungus and aphid invasion. To combat them and as a prophylactic agent, plants can be treated with a solution of water, laundry soap and wood ash. If biological methods have failed, the plants should be treated with insecticides.
Peoniferous papaver is graceful and attractive summer plants with expressive flowers and unassuming character, which will be the perfect decoration of any garden. A wide palette of shades will allow you to make any, even the most incredible compositions.
