Hi northerner_on :)

Okay, you are in a zone above me but I imagine us to not be too far different. My pods were ready for harvesting I think a few months ago so I believe yours would be by now!! As long as the heads are brown and dried out, then the seeds should be ready :)

With the rain, I'd just make sure the seeds are fully dry before storing. ( I actually leave seed collecting for another day when it rains cuz mother nature I find, is much better at drying them faster then indoors, where they might mold)

As far as color, I also grew those kind of poppies but I would not describe my seeds as black completely. shades of brown if I look closely at mine. I'd say to keep them and try them no matter what tho lol ;)
Hope this helps a little!!
~Michael
heavenlyfarm

Here is a link that might be useful: Includes a pic of poppy seeds in her hand

though i doubt you will have much success indoors ... growing them ...

try germinating a few ...

its really the only way to get an answer ...

if you have pix.. you can get the latin name of the plant.. then you might be able to get pix of the seeds ...

i would rather have an answer ... then wonder about it all winter long ...

ken

These are Papaver somniferum, Ken. Mine produce seed in various shades of black, brown and beige. If the stems were brown and the seeds could be shaken out I would say they were ripe. I don't actually bother collecting them myself as they do a very good job of sowing themselves without my help.

I don't think they'll work. It has happened to me, too. i now try to not give away or plant all of my seeds in case of bad weather.

BTW, my peony-flowered double poppies (opium poppy) comes true from seed. But, I only grow one color. LOVE these. SO easy and pretty. But, each flower only lasts one day. it is a very short, but very pretty bloom time.