I bought blue poppy seeds last winter, I put them outside then bring them back to my basement, some of them germinated, it looks they grow very slow, there is no anyone has a true leaf.

Do I need to bring them outside or keep them in my basement until I see the true leaf?

I'm in Toronto, z6a.

Thanks.

peter

Mine will germinate in temps within the 40-55F range - our Springs are mild, wet, cool and seedlings do develop slowly. I have several cells of seedlings that have been at the seed leaf stage 4-6 weeks now and that is normal for most years (they have been exposed to overnight frost more than once since sprouting). When temperatures warm a little mine will put out true leaves and growth speeds up some.

they all germinated in basement, no any artificial light, the only light is from the small window of my basement.

what's best temperature for them to go outside? I'll try to do it right now if the temperature is not too low or too high.

peter

Small basement window won't be enough light. I would put them outside in a somewhat protected spot like in dappled shade or under an evergreen of some kind for an hour or two - if your outdoor daytime temps are in the 50ish range and your basement has not been fully heated - you don't want them going from 70F to 40F abruptly. Increase that amount of time each day but do not be in too big a hurry to leave them outside 24/7 if you still have a possibility of hard frost.

In their native conditions and not started indoors, they are quite tolerant of cool to chilly, moist temperatures - its summer dryness and heat that causes them to fail. Here where our summers have very little heat, they grow in almost full sun with moist soil. I have my first bloom of the year opening just this week; conditions have been a lot of rainy days, on only two of those days have temperatures climbed out of the 50s.