Poppies when they grow from seed have the leaves right above the ground and the rest is below ground. Because the part below the leaves goes straight down to the root it is hard to see how low they should be planted. Poppies even ones grown from seed occasionally flop over. If yours have the leaves well above the ground then plant them lower.

You may not have planted them deep enough to support the plant but that has nothing to do with planting tomatoes. Tomatoes can tolerate having their stem burried and will grow roots along that stem. Only plants in the tomato family have this ability.

Annual poppies do not have to be started ahead of time. Planted from seed outside after danger of frost is past they will be up and blooming in about 6 weeks. You can even plant them earlier because a light frost won't hurt them. I always have them blooming in my flower beds and I haven't planted any in about 10 years. I don't deadhead them and they reseed themselves. The seed goes through our cold winters and sprouts when the time is right

they are a lost cause for this year ... as to the perfection you wish ...

let them bloom.. and go to seed.. and next years crop will be perfect ...

it sounds like you bought stock past its prime.. and.. i am guessing.. kinda left them in the cell packs a bit long ... they should not have been that tall at planting ....

frankly.. i know of just about nothing.. that can be planted like a tomato ... most plant stems will rot.. before they ever root .. like a tomato does ... i know.. i know.. peeps will come listing hundreds of things.. my point simply is.. the majority of things will not work that way ...

my self sown poppy are just about done for the year.. flower production is fading.. as are the plants themselves ... digging one up. would just kill it ...

and i can think of no annual you should be digging up.. in july/august.. and expect much of anything during that time.. its just the wrong season.. to be doing it ...

have fun learning ....

ken

I think Ken is right, you bought old stock that wouldn't survive no matter what you did to it. Stores will sell plants way past their prime because people will continue to buy them, not knowing any better. I'm in Houston, where it's been over 90 for weeks, even over 100. Some of the nurseries still have tomatoes!

Thanks for your input. I guess I bought spindly plants. We are getting a few blooms from them and it's enough to make me want to grow plants from seed next year. Many plants- these things are beautiful! I'd love to have a garden full of them.