michael wrote:

I am still having great difficulty in germinating peas successfully.I
have been using different seed,some my own saved seed and some 2006
seed.Clearly the more recent seed germinates better,but,generally I
must be doing something wrong.I germinate in large standard plastic
trays,by half filling the trays,sowing the peas(100 approx) and
filling with compost,thus making the peas about 1" deep.Then I water
quite thoroughly.Earlier in the year(February,March) I had more
success,but recently in the warm weather (22C+),it has proved very
difficult.The peas seem to swell,even throw out a shoot,but then give
up.Others germinate fully,but when getting them out of the tray to
plant have brown rather than white roots.So either I am watering too
little to enable a large number of seeds to obtain enough water,or
too much causing them to rot.Or it is the high temperatures that have
caused the peas to stew.Or it is the compost I am using,which is a
mixture of (cheap)peat based + John Innes plus some grit.I grow a lot
of peas,and just cannot get it right.Help would be much
appreciated.Michael

Most likely too much watering. Peas don't like to be soaked when
germinating.