A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Plant Propagation poppy -wrong time of year?

I planted poppy seed a couple of months ago (zone 9) I swear I read somewhere they were companions to tomatoes. they have sprouted but look pittiful. I've been searching for info and maybe i planted them at the wrong time of year? should I put them in a shady spot or feed them to the compost? how can they be companions to tomatoes if they grow in winter??? (i'm new to seed planting. used to just buy the plants I knew, but garden and beds grow each year...too expensive anymore)

In our zone 9 most poppies are best if planted in fall. In cooler climates they might be a better companion to tomatoes. I just don't know. I always direct sow poppies; they seem to do so much better in the yard than trying to start in pots then transplant.

So maybe what I read about being companions for tomotoes were for colder climates? got it! Thanks! So, what would YOU do with a few dozen poppie seedlings this time of year that 'no lookie so good'?

I think I found the answer to my own question. I was just watching a garden/insect show. It says be carefuly to plant things at the right time of year. It said weak plants are more suseptable (sp?) to disease, then disease spreading insects can spread disease to other plants. poppies go to feed the compost now. glad I only paid five cents for them.