Poppy Questions??

[maburleson]

I was unable to order some poppy(Papaver somniferum L.) seeds from the US catalog of Thompson and Morgan, a British seed supplier, because they were said to be opium poppy seeds. However many domestic catalogs including Baker Creek sell the poppy(Papaver somniferum), is it the same and if so how is this possible? Also I love the look of poppys growing in the meadow behind my garden, if I grow these am I going to get a visit from the DEA.

[schuyler gardener]

I had noticed that Thompson and Morgans catalog had a note in their catalog that U.S. law prohibits the cultivation of Papaver Somniferum. That got me started watching other catalogs coming in. Quite a few U.S. companies offer seeds to this poppy. If it were illegal to grow here, I can't understand why it would be legal to sell the seeds.
I haven't completed my seed list yet, but I am planning on trying to grow some poppies again this year. Somniferums may be some of what I order. I planted 4 packs of poppy seeds last year and they all did poorly. Somniferum Lauren's Grape was one of them. Just to ease your fears, why don't you look into some of the Paeoniflorums. They look even more exciting to me than the Somniferums.
I hope they grow this year.

[GreenZone]

Our understanding (NOT based on advise of counsel! LOL) is that it is OK to grow them. It becomes illegal when a person starts doing things that could be construed a attempting to harvest the sap (which, dried, is opium more or less) At that point it becomes manufacturing a controlled substance. In any case we've never had any governmental agency say a word to us about selling the seeds. Yet.

Also I've heard that not every strain of P somniferum actullay contains much of the narcotic principal anyway. Wouldn't know if our does or doesn't.
---Randel

[Pharmerphil]

We have alot of Chez's in Minnesota, while touring gardens for the Master Gardening program, I was called to an elderly ladies home for some advice, she had a Lovely Garden, and in one corner, along with some Caraway, were about 100 poppy plants, I asked her if she was concerned with this, and her response was:
I been raising those poppies for over 45 years, and if they want to come lock me up for them, so be it! She made the Best poppy seed breads I have ever tasted.
She had the knowledge too, she quickly reached into her apron and produced a pen knife, and went on to demonstrate, scoring the seed pod, we watched as the juice developed, and ran down the pod, only about a 16th. of a teaspoon was emitted, now she said, If I were to get that much out of each of these pods, the amount of raw opium, wouldn't be enough to cure a toothache! :p I had to laugh, and tell her, the authorities would hear nothing from Me!http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/chobb/Whis.gif
I am under the same understanding as Greenzone, and it is correct that different varieties contain more of the narcotic compounds, Hers were the Real McCoy, To be sure, and have piece of mind, grow a variety like "breadseed" if you really want to make some good poppy seed bread!

[kabuti]

The 1870 agriculture report has a detailed report on the opium poppy (pp206)with all the pertinent 'details';good Turkey opium at that time was worth at wholesale $10.50 to $11.00 per lb & $20. to $22.00 retail. Importations to the US during the year ending June 1870 were 254,609lbs valued at $1,776,908.00 The common garden poppy P. somniferum IS the species cult. in Turkey & India for, at that time, 'medicinal' purposes. There are 2 principal varieties; one with white seeds & usually white flowers & the other with black seeds & violet or red flowers. The former generally cult. for opium the latter for oil. although both may be obtained from either.etc. 1/4 acre planted in Jefferson Cty NY produced 27lbs opium in 4 years = to 27lbs acre which would amount to $270.00- 1 acre for 1 year. etc. Hmmm