Poppy herb and Poppy medicine

The poppy is widely spread across the -1 temperate zones of the world. For thousands of years corn and poppy and civilizations have gone together. The Romans looked on poppy as sacred to their corn goddess, Ceres, who taught men to sow and reap. The ancient Egyptians used poppy seed in their baking for its aromatic flavor. The field poppy grew on Flanders fields alter the battles of World War I and became the symbol of Remembrance Day.

Species

Papaver rhoeas

Field Poppy

Also known as Common Poppy, Corn Poppy, Blind Eves, Blind Man, Red Dolly, Red Huntsmen, Poppet, Old Woman's Petticoat, Thunderbolt, and Wart flower Hardy annual. Ht 20-60cm (8-24in) spread 45cm (18in). Brilliant scarlet flower with black basal blotch from summer to early autumn. The mid-green leaf has 3 lobes and is irregularly-toothed.

Papaver somnif erum

Opium Poppy

Hardy annual. Ht 30-90cm (12-36in) spread 45cm (18in). Large pale lilac, white, purple or variegated flowers in summer. The leaf is long with toothed margins and bluish in color. There is a double-flowered variety, P. paeoniaeflorum.

Papaver commutatum

Ladybird Poppy

Hardy annual. Ht 30-90cm (12-36in) spread 45cm (18in). Red flowers in summer, each with black blotch in centre. Leaf oblong and deeply toothed. Native of Asia Minor.

Meconopsis cambrica

Welsh Poppy

Hardy perennial. Ht 30- 60cm (12-24in). Yellow flowers in summer. The green leaves are divided into many leaflets. It differs from Papaver in that the seeds are released through slits in the seed heads and not through pepper-pot heads.

Cultivation

Propagation

Seed

Sow the very fine seed in autumn onto the surface of prepared seed or plug trays, using the bark, peat, grit mix of compost. Cover with glass and leave outside for winter stratification. In spring, when seedlings are large enough, plant out into the garden in groups.

Pests and Diseases

Largely pest and disease free.

Maintenance

Spring: Plant out in garden.

Summer: Dead head flowers to prolong flowering and prevent self-seeding.

Autumn: Sow seed. Dig up old plants.

Winter: No need to protect.

Garden Cultivation

Poppies all prefer a sunny-site and a well-drained fertile soil. Sow in the autumn in a prepared site; press seed into the soil but do not cover. Thin to20-30cm (8-12in) apart. Remove the heads after flowering to prevent self-seeding.

Harvest

The ripe seeds can be collected from both field and opium poppies, the seed of which is not narcotic. It must however be ripe; otherwise it will go moldy in store.

Culinary

Sprinkle the ripe seeds on bread, cakes and biscuits for a pleasant nutty flavor. Add to curry powder for texture, flavor, and as a thickener.

Container growing

Use the bark, peat, grit mix of compost. Place in full sun out of the wind, and water well during the summer. Refrain from feeding as this will produce lots of soft growth and few flowers.

Medicinal

The unripe seed capsules of the opium poppy are used for the extraction of morphine and the manufacture of Codeine.

Other uses

The oil extracted from the seed of the opium poppy is used not only as a salad oil, and for cooking, but also for burning in lamps, and in the manufacture of varnish, paint and soap.