California poppy can be sown in either spring (March to May) or autumn (August to October), depending on your site conditions and preference.
Before sowing, clear away any existing vegetation and lightly rake the soil surface to create a suitable tilth. The seed should be broadcast evenly over the prepared area and then gently pressed into the surface, avoid burying them too deeply, no more than 2–3 mm is recommended.
Once sown, keep the area damp but not waterlogged, particularly during dry spells, as consistent moisture helps with germination. In the first year, growth may be modest, and flowering limited, but this is entirely normal as the plant focuses on establishing a strong root system.
Ongoing maintenance is low, once established, Californian Poppy is drought-tolerant and will return year after year, it prefers low-nutrient soils, so avoid applying fertilisers which could encourage more dominant grasses.
For garden applications direct sow at 1g/m2. For overseeding existing meadow planting or for new sowings on larger areas sow at a maximum of 2g/m2.
