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what is the difference between cooking poppy seeds and the ones planted in flower gardens?

Public Comments

1. They're probably different species.
2. Often (not always) the ones you buy for cooking are de-germinated by heat or sanitizing process...but in general they are the same red poppy seed you see growing in gardens and Afghanistan hillsides. There will be varietal difference and hybrids for one characteristic or another, but basically the same. I have been told that eating the seeds will trigger a drug test by my Kolache making neighbors (I don't know that). Try to germinate the cooking seeds by placing them in a moist wrap of paper towels and keeping them warm (70-80) and moist for a few days...if they don't sprout they wont grow in the garden.