Early spring is the last chance to sow poppy seeds while the soil is still cool, giving them the best opportunity to germinate and flower, says gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON.

Now that spring has arrived, it is time to get any poppy seeds that were not sown in autumn into the ground.

Poppy seeds are very small and can be difficult to sow, but mixing them with sand before casting them on to bare soil will help distribute them evenly. Water gently after sowing.

The sand will also help with drainage, give the seeds some protection from being washed away during watering and, importantly, show where they have been scattered.

Direct sow while the soil is still cool to help the seeds germinate. If sown from October, when soils have warmed, or in the shade, germination may be sporadic and the plants may not flower at all. Overall, poppies are better sown in autumn and are not bothered by frost.

Poppies do not like root disturbance, so any transplanting needs to be done with great care. In many ways, direct sowing will give the best success.

Most poppies are annuals, including Flanders, Californian and Iceland poppies. Oriental poppies and Himalayan poppies, Meconopsis baileyi, are perennials and will return year after year.

Himalayan poppies are by far the hardest and rarest to grow, but with a few tips and tricks you should be able to grow them in our region. They like rich compost soil, protection from the hot afternoon sun and shelter from winds. Watering during summer is important, while a good organic fertiliser is needed during the growing period.

In the first year, it is important to pinch off the flower heads to prevent the plants from dying. From the second year, the flowers can be enjoyed.

Snails can decimate poppies overnight, so a little diatomaceous earth sprinkled around young plants will keep snails and slugs at bay. The true rich blue colour of Himalayan poppies is a sight to be seen and worth a try.

FLOWERING now in the garden are the sweet peas planted around St Patrick’s Day in March. 

While sweet peas like to be directly sown, they do very little all winter. At the first signs of spring they put on fast growth, flowering within a few weeks.

Their spicy fragrance is what they are grown for, with just a few sprigs in a vase filling a room with a romantic scent in no time.

Sweet peas are annual legumes that naturally provide nitrogen to the soil where they grow. When they have finished flowering, collect the seeds and place them in a paper bag for storage over summer. 

In mid-March, soak the seeds overnight in a light seaweed solution before sowing to ensure even germination.

THIS month is the beginning of the Open Garden season, with the line-up of gardens getting better each year.

The first open garden of the season is Forrest Bower in Talbot Street, Forrest, on September 26 and 27. This garden is on a double block, beautifully designed and full of flowers. I know this garden well and it is not to be missed.

This garden, along with all those opened to the public, is a testament to the hard work of the owners. Having them open for everyone to enjoy is a real treat.

Open Gardens Canberra also funds many charities and grants, as well as sponsoring an annual horticultural scholarship at CIT Canberra. A committee of volunteers runs Open Gardens Canberra, and they are always looking for helpers to assist in any way they can.

To find out about the other gardens open this season, visit the Open Gardens Canberra website.

Jottings 

• Pick broad beans to encourage more flowers.

• Liquid feed all vegetables while they are growing. 

• Sow seeds of tomatoes, capsicums and eggplants. 

• Feed bulbs when they have finished flowering. 

jackwar@home.netspeed.com.au

News all day, every day at CityNewsQBN.com.au.