How to Germinate a Papaver Prince of Orange

Papaver "Prince of Orange" is an Oriental poppy variety that produces 4 to 5 inch wide vibrant orange blooms with black centers. The plants are perennial and winter hardy throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture Zones 3 to 7. They grow up to 2 1/2 feet tall and begin flowering during late spring or early summer. Papaver Prince of Orange seeds can be germinated indoors, approximately six to eight weeks before the final frost of spring.

Things You'll Need

2-1/2-inch peat pots
Seed starting mix
Sand
Spray bottle

Piece of paper
Clear plastic
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Pour seed starting mix into 2-1/2-inch peat pots. Fill each pot just over 3/4 of the way full.
- 2
  Add enough water to dampen the mix.
- 3
  Place the Papaver Prince of Orange seeds into a small container. Mix 2 tbsp. of sand with the seeds.
- 4
  Pour the seed and sand mixture into a creased paper. Hold the paper over the peat pots and gently tap it so that no more than three to four seeds are added to each pot.
- 5
  Sprinkle a 1/16-inch layer of seed starting mix over the seeds and mist the mix lightly with water. Stretch a piece of clear plastic over each pot.
- 6
  Place the peat pots in a location with exposure to full sun.
- 7
  Add moisture only when the seed starting mixture dries out completely. Place the pots into a sink filled with 1 inch of water instead of pouring moisture onto the soil to avoid disturbing the tiny seeds.
- 8
  Thin the seedlings, leaving only one in each peat pot, when they are 1 inch tall. Use scissors to snip the unwanted seedlings off at soil level.
- 9
  Transplant the Papaver Prince of Orange seedlings to the garden when they are 3 to 4 inches tall and there is no longer a risk of frost.

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