How to Grow California Poppies

California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) are easy to grow from seed and can be sown directly into the garden in fall or early spring:

1. Prepare the soil

   California poppies grow best in well-drained, average soil. If your soil is heavy or clay-like, you can improve drainage by adding organic matter like compost.
2. Sow the seeds

   Lightly press seeds 1/16–5 mm deep, 15–30 cm apart, and in rows that are also 15 cm apart. You can use a bamboo cane to make a straight drill in moist soil to help with spacing. Scattering the seeds thinly along the drill can help you avoid wasting seeds and make thinning out easier.
3. Water

   Lightly water the seeds after sowing to moisten the soil, and keep it consistently moist until they germinate, which can take 7–21 days. After germination, you can allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
4. Thin seedlings

   Once seedlings are about 4 cm tall, thin them out so they are spaced about 15 cm apart. Thin them again when they are 8 cm tall.
5. Protect young plants

   Young seedlings may need protection from pests, pets, and weather until they are established.
6. Deadhead

   Regularly deadheading can help prevent self-seeding, which California poppies are likely to do when conditions are favorable. 

You can also start seedlings indoors in trays or other containers and transplant them to the garden once they are established, but they may not like being transplanted. 

In cooler climates, California poppies may go dormant in the winter. You can cut the plants down to the base or leave them as is, and then mulch the ground around the roots for extra protection. In warmer climates, mulch may also help keep the plants from going dormant.

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