If you want to grow poppies this year… you don’t need to sprinkle them on top of snow in winter. Poppy seeds don’t technically need a cold period to germinate. Most papavers will germinate just fine at 70° F (or 21°C). That being said, there is some research out there that a brief cold period can improve germination rates in some cases. For Icelandic poppies, you may want to consider sowing them in the fall or starting them indoors, but most poppies don’t love being transplanted so direct sowing