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

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.

I've never had proglems with garden peas. I get the variety 'Onward' from
the farm shop. I planted 250gr about 1" deep on the 10th May and some are
just coming thru.

I plant as the soil begins to warm up. French climbing beans and Mange Tout
peas, also coming thru. In a few days, I hope the dwarf beans will be
showing. It's a matter of timing ...... and luck.

Bertie
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