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#1
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Growing peas
I have given up sowing peas outside,but instead sow them in trays in a
heated propagator area.I have varying success in getting high germination rates,and have put this down to using poor compost.I tend to mix multipurpose compost with some grit sand and John Innes.I fill half of a large seed tray with compost,place about a hundred peas reasonably spaced (1" apart)onto the compost and then dip the tray in a water tray until the water turn the compost dark or wet.I then drain off, fill the seed tray with more compost,and then place in the propagator.The thermostat is set to about 30F,giving a soil temperature at the bottom of the tray just over 20F.The peas seem to start pushing the compost up after about 6 days,but this is where the problem starts.With some composts the whole of the soil in the top of the tray lifts up like a roof,and at this stage the soil is quite dry.It sometimes does not shake down,but if I water the top to soften it,which is itself quite difficult,the peas underneath the 'roof' tend to rot.I seem to have least problems with the more expensive Bowers and Levington multicompost,but some of the cheaper composts such as Tunstall are dreadful. Does anyone have any similar experience of this,and can help with a solution? Cheers,Michael P.S.I have given up growing peas outside,as the mice always take 90%! |
#2
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Growing peas
"michael" wrote P.S.I have given up growing peas outside,as the mice always take 90%! We are fighting back this year after no peas or sweetcorn, got some professional type rodent bait that is so powerful one meal and they are dead. -- Regards Bob Hobden |
#3
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Growing peas
On 8 Apr, 12:29, michael wrote:
I have given up sowing peas outside,but instead sow them in trays in a heated propagator area.I have varying success in getting high germination rates,and have put this down to using poor compost.I tend to mix multipurpose compost with some grit sand and John Innes.I fill half of a large seed tray with compost,place about a hundred peas reasonably spaced (1" apart)onto the compost and then dip the tray in a water tray until the water turn the compost dark or wet.I then drain off, fill the seed tray with more compost,and then place in the propagator.The thermostat is set to about 30F,giving a soil temperature at the bottom of the tray just over 20F.The peas seem to start pushing the compost up after about 6 days,but this is where the problem starts.With some composts the whole of the soil in the top of the tray lifts up like a roof,and at this stage the soil is quite dry.It sometimes does not shake down,but if I water the top to soften it,which is itself quite difficult,the peas underneath the 'roof' tend to rot.I seem to have least problems with the more expensive Bowers and Levington multicompost,but some of the cheaper composts such as Tunstall are dreadful. Does anyone have any similar experience of this,and can help with a solution? Cheers,Michael P.S.I have given up growing peas outside,as the mice always take 90%! You're mollycoddling them. I use offcuts of rainwater guttering about 1metre long, 3 parts filled with compost - yes the premium composts like Levington multi purpose are worth the premium. You don't need a propagator and you don't need anytrhing like 20C. sow on the compost about 50mm apart in 3 rows, cover with about 20mm compost, water well and cover with an old compost bag. Put them somewhere warm say around 16C is fine, in my case that's in my workshop. As soon as you see any sign of anything coming through you can uncover them and put them straight outside. Slide them out into prepared drills when they're big enough. The technique for that is to water if they're a bit dry so the roots aren't stuck to the plastic, ram the end of the guttering (sharply but not too hard) against something solid to get them moving, then slide them down into the drill. Water in to settle the soil around them. I do this even with early sowings and find they will tolerate a touch of frost but only if you cool them off before they've had chance to grow soft. Protect them or keep them out of reach of rodents at all times See Bob's post. |
#4
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Growing peas
On Tue, 8 Apr 2008 11:02:24 -0700 (PDT), Rod
wrote: You're mollycoddling them. I use offcuts of rainwater guttering about 1metre long, 3 parts filled with compost - yes the premium composts like Levington multi purpose are worth the premium. You don't need a propagator and you don't need anytrhing like 20C. sow on the compost about 50mm apart in 3 rows, cover with about 20mm compost, water well and cover with an old compost bag. Put them somewhere warm say around 16C is fine, in my case that's in my workshop. As soon as you see any sign of anything coming through you can uncover them and put them straight outside. Slide them out into prepared drills when they're big enough. The technique for that is to water if they're a bit dry so the roots aren't stuck to the plastic, ram the end of the guttering (sharply but not too hard) against something solid to get them moving, then slide them down into the drill. Water in to settle the soil around them. I do this even with early sowings and find they will tolerate a touch of frost but only if you cool them off before they've had chance to grow soft. Protect them or keep them out of reach of rodents at all times See Bob's post. I would add to that the fact that unless the peas have developed a good root system in the drainpipes, when you try to slide them out they all fall apart. I know this from experience the only time I tried this method. I think the peas need to form a good mass of roots, well entwined, before sliding them out. Pam in Bristol |
#5
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Growing peas
Bob Hobden wrote:
"michael" wrote P.S.I have given up growing peas outside,as the mice always take 90%! We are fighting back this year after no peas or sweetcorn, got some professional type rodent bait that is so powerful one meal and they are dead. What is it ? And where can it be purchased ? Dorothy |
#6
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Growing peas
"High Miles" wrote ... Bob Hobden wrote: "michael" wrote P.S.I have given up growing peas outside,as the mice always take 90%! We are fighting back this year after no peas or sweetcorn, got some professional type rodent bait that is so powerful one meal and they are dead. What is it ? And where can it be purchased ? It's a paste that smells of peanut butter made in sachets made by Raco and I got it from another allotment holder that uses it at work. Presumably it's available on the net if you google. Care, there is an indoor only one and one for both indoors and outdoors. Treat it with the respect it deserves, it's a strong poison, read the product information etc. and act accordingly. Always use a proper mouse bait box and ensure they can't drag the sachets outside the box, I bought the specific box to go with the poison that has a metal bar that passes through the sachets to hold them in place. It isn't cheap! -- Regards Bob Hobden My video of the moment http://yeli.us:80/Flash/Fire.html |
#7
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Growing peas
Bob Hobden wrote:
"High Miles" wrote ... Bob Hobden wrote: "michael" wrote P.S.I have given up growing peas outside,as the mice always take 90%! We are fighting back this year after no peas or sweetcorn, got some professional type rodent bait that is so powerful one meal and they are dead. What is it ? And where can it be purchased ? It's a paste that smells of peanut butter made in sachets made by Raco and I got it from another allotment holder that uses it at work. Presumably it's available on the net if you google. Care, there is an indoor only one and one for both indoors and outdoors. Treat it with the respect it deserves, it's a strong poison, read the product information etc. and act accordingly. Always use a proper mouse bait box and ensure they can't drag the sachets outside the box, I bought the specific box to go with the poison that has a metal bar that passes through the sachets to hold them in place. It isn't cheap! Thank you so much. For the info and the good advice. But - they gotta GO. Dorothy |
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