Elka White Poppy Seeds

Originating centuries ago in Chrenovec-Brusno, Slovakia, the Elka White poppy is well-loved for a variety of unique features. In this region, family farms and gardens would grow black bread seed poppies alongside Elka White and collect massive quantities of the seed for cooking. The sweet, white walnut-flavoured seeds are pressed into a cooking oil known as Olivet in France. Mass-marketed oils forced the production of this special heirloom into obscurity. 

Stunning paper-thin cream-coloured flowers have a purple center with pink splashed through the petals. Plants grow to be over a metre tall and typically need support or shelter from the wind to stay upright. Be sure to plant in cool soil that receives full sun. The desirable seeds form in large, attractive pods that remain closed, preventing the flower from self-seeding. To harvest, remove the seed pods and allow them to dry completely. Gently crush the pod and pour out the seeds into a bowl. Sift off the chaff and enjoy the seeds however you wish.

A great flower for cold regions, seeds can be directly sown directly early in the spring. Seeds from the Elka White Ppoppy are highly sought after for use in bread, lending a delightful nutty flavour. They are also highly regarded for pressing into cooking oil and grinding into seed butter. And the advantages don’t end with beautiful flowers and delicious seeds.; If you’re passionate about the pollinator population, plant Elka White to draw in an incredible amount of bees. 

- Latin Name: Papaver somniferum
- Life Cycle: Annual
- Days to Maturity: 90
- Planting Depth: 2-3 seeds 5 mm deep or broadcast directly
- Plant Spacing: 15-30 cm
- Growth Habit: 60-90 cm tall

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS

Poppies typically bloom from late spring to early summer. They hardly require any maintenance once established and will acclimate to almost any climate over the course of a few seasons.

The easiest way to propagate poppies is to let them do the work! Poppies freely self-seed from one season to the next and will eventually become naturalized to the area in which they grow. But to get a new crop started, sowing directly into the garden is the best option.

Transplanting poppies is a difficult task and is not recommended. Still, it is possible if the correct precautions are taken. Poppies germinate quite easily, but quickly develop a central taproot that does not like to be disrupted. By planting seeds in biodegradable peat or coco pots, this problem can be avoided.

Four to six weeks before the last frost date, plant two or three seeds per pot and lightly cover with soil. Mist and cover with plastic wrap to retain heat and humidity. Pots can be placed on a heat mat and seedlings should appear in about two weeks. Remove the plastic when germination is apparent. When seedlings are about 5 cm in height, thin to a single sprout. Provide bright, filtered light for seedlings. Gradually acclimate young poppies to the outdoors by hardening them off. Prepare the garden bed and dig planting holes (30-45 cm apart) large enough to accommodate the entire pot. Plant the poppies, backfill with soil and water well.

The planting site should be in full sun to encourage strong growth and abundant blooms. If the site is well-drained, poppies can adapt to many types of soil. They’ll even survive and grow in poor soil, but to achieve outstanding results, the addition of a little organic material will go a long way.

Established poppies require little water to thrive. Too much water can quickly lead to leggy, weak stems. Your watering duties are likely to be taken care of by mother nature if you receive regular rainfall. Deadheading spent flowers will prolong the blooming window. Poppy flowers are not frost tolerant, but their seeds will endure cold winters and sprout reliably next spring.

QUICK FACTS

- Iceland poppies are also sometimes called ‘’Arctic Poppies’’ because they are perennials that thrive in subarctic conditions.

- Poppy seeds will remain viable for 4 years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.