[joyce c]

Can anyone tell me what to do with the foliage of my beautiful poppies, after I have retrieved the seeds. Do I cut it back or leave it to die naturally, although the latter would look a little unsightly in my beautiful flower beds.. Any advise would be appreciated.. . . . I think I may have already posted this query.  But it showed up as error   I'd put a photo on and it was too big.

[Beetroot queen]

I used to pull mine out and compost them, once I had the seeds, but then again they never grew where I wanted them too so maybe I was abit harsh, now I pull them up as soon as I see them as these days i dont really do flowers, if you cant eat it, I dont grow it 

[mickwood]

I read somewhere (and I can't remember where?) that they can be cut right down to ground level?

[barney rubble]

Can anyone tell me what to do with the foliage of my beautiful poppies, after I have retrieved the seeds. Do I cut it back or leave it to die naturally, although the latter would look a little unsightly in my beautiful flower beds.. Any advise would be appreciated.. . . . I think I may have already posted this query.  But it showed up as error   I'd put a photo on and it was too big.

I'd agree with beetroot queen - unless you like the foliage filling your beds, they can be removed, as they not going to flower again for you, and you've got your seeds for next year.

Re photo - I'm always doing that, but have learnt to reduce the size of my photo in Windows Paint to 25 or 30%, and then post. I often do it in two posts - text first , then photo as a second "reply", as I've found too much text walongside ther photo will make it too big also..hpoe this helps

[joyce c]

Can anyone tell me what to do with the foliage of my beautiful poppies, after I have retrieved the seeds. Do I cut it back or leave it to die naturally, although the latter would look a little unsightly in my beautiful flower beds.. Any advise would be appreciated.. . . . I think I may have already posted this query.  But it showed up as error   I'd put a photo on and it was too big.

I'd agree with beetroot queen - unless you like the foliage filling your beds, they can be removed, as they not going to flower again for you, and you've got your seeds for next year.

Re photo - I'm always doing that, but have learnt to reduce the size of my photo in Windows Paint to 25 or 30%, and then post. I often do it in two posts - text first , then photo as a second "reply", as I've found too much text walongside ther photo will make it too big also..hpoe this helps
Thanks for the info on photography.  I'll give it a try.

[mumofstig]

unless you like the foliage filling your beds, they can be removed, as they not going to flower again for you,

Unless of course they arethe perennial ones

Oriental Poppies

[barney rubble]

unless you like the foliage filling your beds, they can be removed, as they not going to flower again for you,

Unless of course they arethe perennial ones

Oriental Poppies

oh yes - forgot about that variety!

[joyce c]

Yes, sorry, should have said, they are perennial.

[mumofstig]

Trim them back a little bit but they still need most of their leaves if you want them to live

[joyce c]

cheers 'mumofstig', think that's the reply I was hoping to get.   

[celjaci]

If oriental poppies are cut back quite hard after flowering and watered if dry, they will  grow a flush of new leaves and sometimes give a second flowering in September.

They can leave quite a big gap in a herbaceous border though

[Ruby Red]

 
  Perennial poppies can quite safely be chopped down to soil level. While waiting for a second flush later on, the gap can be filled (as in my garden) with a nice pot of lillies bought from Morrisons dead cheaply, I have a few of these to fill in any gaps. 

[BobandJack]

I had these for years & I always cut them right down after flowering, it never hurt them & they very often had a second flush of flowers.

[mumofstig]

O you lucky people, i did it to mine and lost the lot sounds like i was just unlucky?
Should i try again then

[BobandJack]

Take a root cutting before you give them the chop?