Papaver Somniferum seedling issue (keeling over @ 4 weeks)

I have been successful in getting the seeds of papaver somniferum to sprout and grow. The problem I am having is that the seedling only grow to a certain height (approx. 1.5-2 inches high, from bottom of the shoot to tip of the leaves) and then they keel over. I can get them to get their tertiary leaves to grow at the most before they 'self destruct.'

Their shoot appears to be too weak to handle the weight of the vegetative growth (cotyledons + primary + secondary + tertiary leaves) and the shoot collapses either by pinching off or by falling over and rotting away. My attempts to keep them upright just ends in them drying out and dying. This happens at or around 4 weeks.

What can I do to prevent this from happening. Obviously, burying their shoots with soil will keep them from falling over but this will probably cause rot. I am using Miracle-Gro potting soil and no fertilizer.

If the seedlings are looking pinched in near the base that's a symptom of damping off, which is a fungal problem that's probably the #1 killer of seedlings. The best way to avoid it is to watch your watering and keep the seedlings a little more on the dry side (a fine line, since if they get too dry that's not good either!) Some people add some hydrogen peroxide to the water when they water or else water with chamomile tea. Both of those can have some anti-fungal properties so if you're watering just a tiny bit too much and the plant doesn't already have symptoms those might help. There also might be a secondary problem of them being too skinny and leggy if they're getting enough light, they will tend to stretch for the light and be much weaker and floppier (but this won't cause them to rot/die, just flop over)

thanks ecrane3, yes that seems to be the problem, the bottom of the shoots are doing that. I heard that placing the seeds in a 1/10 bleach dilution for ten minutes before planting will kill a fungus that grows on the seeds. THAT fungus can prevent them from sprouting. But I will try the H2O2 at a low concentration.

I've seen some images from those who have the shoots exposed in one image at 4 weeks, but then that same after 5 weeks, only see the vegetative growth is exposed. Who know, but I will try what you said, thanks.

If yours are being compromised by fungal problems, I wouldn't expect for the rest of the growth to develop normally since the seedling's not healthy. If you can cut back a bit on watering and prevent damping off then you may find next time around your seedlings look more like the pictures you've seen. Or if they don't, if they're still on the leggy side then I'd suspect they're not getting enough light, that's another very common problem with seedlings.

I agree with ecrane3--it's damping off. But you are probably planting them too thickly, which means that the local humidity is much higher than they would like. Try to force yourself to plant only a couple seeds in each pot or cell or pellet or whatever. You can use a toothpick dipped in water to pick up a couple of seeds or even just one and plant it. Outside of overwatering, overcrowding is a major reason for damping off.

I don't have much luck with growing somneriferum in pots. I direct sow them in the fall or early spring and they do wonderfully.