Opium poppy
Papaver somniferum, known as the opium poppy, is a flowering plant valued for its decorative and medicinal uses.
History
Uses
Opium poppies are grown for: their seeds as food, for the opiate compounds they produce as both a medicinal and recreational drug, as well as for purely decorative purposes.
How to grow
NOTICE: While it is perfectly legal in most cases to grow opium producing poppies, harvesting opium from them is not in most places. Under no circumstances are illicit activities supported, this is for educational purposes. Please adhere to your local laws.
Like other poppy varieties, the seeds must first be cold stratified before sowing. Once cold stratified, the seeds can simply be sprinkled on the surface of the soil. It is best to do this in early spring or to sprinkle the seeds in the fall or winter season beforehand and let naturally cold stratify. Poppies do not take well to being transplanted nor being potted so its best to use aforementioned methods.
Harvesting
The seeds of the opium poppy can be harvested for food or later planting, The seed pods scored to gather raw opium, and the seed pods, leaves and stems can be dried or extracted to make a mild opium tea or puddy (see opium). After the flower has been pollinated and the petals break away the seeds will develop and ripen within the seed pod, during this growth period is when opium is collected. If left unmanaged, the seed pod will mature letting loose the seeds within the pod (this is when the seeds should be harvested for food and the pods, stems, and leaves collected for opium tea/puddy), dry out and holes near the top of the pod will open, and expel the seeds as the dried pod shakes in the wind.