Rock advises: After I have gotten what I want from the first pods and I can see that the plant is producing more, but the leaves are turning yellow from lack of water, I water lightly. The reason is because the plant and pods will die from lack of water. When watering in the future, every 2 weeks water deeply so when it comes time for harvest, the soil will be moist where the roots drink from. A poppy plant only grows it's roots down a few inches, then the roots grow horizontally. This is also why spacing is crucial when planting. Always water 10" out from the stem because the roots grow away from the stem, not down. Keep the soil moist in a wide area around the plants.