Poppies are one of those plants that germinate best in the garden where they are grown. They also do not transplant well. Your garden soil(and the air temperature)will fluctuate which is fine for germination. If you have not checked the winter sowing forum, take a look and get some more ideas. Al

I didn't state my question well.

When you read that a seed germinates at a certain temperature, I believe they are speaking of soil temperature. What I don't know is at what time of day or night are they talking about. I imagine soil temperature is coldest in the middle of the night and warmest mid day.

I have a soil thermometer, what time of day or evening should I be checking the temperature?

Thanks,
Ginny

Ginny, the following is a quote from http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-germinate-poppy-seeds

"Poppy seeds are relatively sensitive to temperature. Poppy seeds will germinate in temperatures of about 60 to 68 degrees F during the daytime. Nighttime temperatures should average between 38 and 45 degrees. If temperatures are much colder or warmer than this, it will result in poor germination and loss of seeds."

Hope this helps,

Art

I have a greenhouse with a 70 degree heatpad that I use for starting cuttings and seeds that ask for that temperature. For poppy seeds and lots of other native seeds, they start better if I start them outside the greenhouse with only the temperature nature provides. One of the advantages of living in coastal California, is the lack of temperature extremes. Al