Meconopsis x sheldonii (syn. Lingholm)

[Annecosse]

Hello, I'm new here.  I live in Charleston near Kirriemuir, East of Scotland.
I've never had a Meconopsis until 2 years ago I bought one from the Logan Botanic gardens on west of Scotland.  Having sat there without much growth in any direction, this spring and summer it suddenly spread its wings, became a much larger plant and to my joy I had 30 blooms (and took lots and lots of photos).   I'm not sure what to do next.  I've read that new plants can be grown from seed, and there are some healthy seed pods sitting there.  I've also been told I should have removed the seed pods after flowering and the plant should be propogated by division.
Can someone help me please.  Thank you.

[Maggi Young]

Welcome, Ann!

If a meconopsis  is a named form then  vegetative propagation ensures the validity of the name for the new plants  but if you are just interested in having these beautiful poppies in your garden then you can certainly grow the seed from it.  Not all the big blue poppies do make viable seed but Lingholm is fertile so the chances are that yours will be fine.  No harm in trying it, anyhow, to get more free plants!

Keep an eye on the seed pods and collect them as soon as you see the capsules begin to open, or else the seed will scatter all over the place on its own.
 Actually, that's what we allow it to do here - too lazy  to collect it and sow it, really   

If you want to collect the seed and sow it , then you will find Ian Christie's advice, here : http://www.srgc.org.uk/nurseryws/290104/content.html  very helpful. (Ian lives at Westmuir, by the way!)

Hope this helps.

[Annecosse]

Thank you for the welcome Maggi.  Yes I will sow seeds and see if they come to anything and I'll do my best to catch them before they burst as I've a feeling they might just disappear otherwise.
I've met Ian, he was a speaker at our local 'Gardeners' Question Time, now if I'd know he knew all about Meconopsis.....
Thank you for the link, I shall go and read about it.

[Maggi Young]

Ooh, Ian (Young) and I did a Question Time in Kirrie a couple of years ago. with Ian C.........

Ian Christie is one of the country's leading Meconopsis growers and very much an expert!

[ichristie]

Hello Ann, thank you Maggie for your kind words, we have had a very difficult time recently with the very hot weather spend all my time watering at night just to keep things alive, I suppose we are never happy last year we moaned about the wet, a little rain would help a lot. Ann if you want a visit here just contact me via this forum, cheers Ian

[Annecosse]

Hello Ian
Sorry not to have responded sooner, I've been away.
I'd love a visit, that would be great, thank you.
Ann

[ichristie]

Hello Ann, will send you a P.M cheers Ian