Question
I dug up a poppy from a relative's yard and would like to grow it in my yard.  A flower has bloomed.  Do I just save the center until the fall and than scatter the seeds?  Will it require any special soil preparation?

Answer
Hi Dee,
Thanx for your question.  You can also dig up the roots of a poppy like I did from my mom's house about 18 years ago.  She had the big, orange, bright poppies and I dug up root pieces and planted them in my yard.  Now, I have had the big, bright orange popppies growing in my yard ever since.  If you want to start from seed hopefully you plant is not a hybrid because the seed does not come true from hybrids.  In other words, the seed will most likely result in a plant that does not resemble yours at all.  At any rate, wait until the pod starts drying out.  When it is sufficiently dry, remove it and shake the seeds into a plastic baggie and store until fall.  Scratch out an area that you want the poppies to grow and scatter the seeds.  You should have new plants in the spring and the second year, you will have blooms.  I hope this helps.
Tom