Please give me your top tips for growing peas

**Bus Station Zebra** · 23-04-2009, 02:42 PM

I have mostly 'sewn directly' as I think I read somewhere that peas don't really like being transplanted. You can always give some cloche protection.

Having said that....

I have grown peas successfully after starting them in lengths of guttering and sliding the contents into location. Also I have started them in newspaper or cardboard tubes and planted the whole thing. Mix a good deal of compost into the soil you are transplanting into and make sure it is not in the same spot each season. If transfering from a warm location then harden them off a bit before exposing them to a full cold night out in the wild. Try not to transplant on days that are too hot and sunny.

I think basically, if planting out then try to minimise the 'shock' to the wee plants.

I am certainly not an expert but I hope that helps a bit for starters...

**chrispy** · 23-04-2009, 02:50 PM

I dig a shallow trench (about 3 inches deep, and the width of my hoe) with my hoe, i then put a fair bit of compost evenly in the trench, and water well, I then sprinkle my seed onto the damp compost, and cover with a little more compost. I then cover the trench back over with a rake, tamp it lightly, and water again.

that works for me, I use the compost because my soil isn't brilliant, and i like to think it gives me a little help.

hope that helps

**Speed Gardener** · 23-04-2009, 03:17 PM

I soak the peas between two sheets of kitchen paper and keep in the dark until the little finger appears then dig a four inch wide trench a couple of inches deep with a draw hoe and sprinkle the germinated peas into it. By this time, you will be able to spot any duffers and get rid of them, and they will break the surface a good week earlier than ungerminated seed. Water them every day until they show.

**blackcatlois** · 23-04-2009, 03:57 PM

I start them off in root trainers and transplant them when about 4 inches tall. If I sow the seeds directly into the ground they usually get eaten!

**sweetiepea** · 23-04-2009, 04:18 PM

It sounds as if they might be feeling the cold.

I start mine off in lengths of gutter hung in the greenhouse. My first sowing this year are about three inches high but I'm not planting them out yet. The weather here has been good for the last few days but the nights are still cold. Before they do go out, I harden them off, and then often cover them at night if there�s the threat of frost.

Keep root disturbance to a minimum too. I start most things off in paper pots then plant the whole thing into the ground.

Works for me

**bluemoon** · 23-04-2009, 04:39 PM

They don't like transplanting. Try sprouting the seeds on damp kitchen paper until the root is half an inch or so long, then sow direct. Sprouted seeds produce a foul taste that mice and birds hate so they won't take them and the sprouting means they'll continue to grow and won't have chance to rot. Cover them with a bit of netting for a few weeks as pigeons will still eat the tops when they first poke through, but other than that there will be no problems - promise.

**womble** · 23-04-2009, 05:08 PM

I sowed Alderman and a couple of others outside in a bed with no protection on the 11th of March and they are mostly doing fine. The Greensage had a bit of a problem germinating, but it might have been old seed.
I find Alderman in particular will grow through anything the weather can throw at it. I don't bother protecting them against frost, in my experience they don't even notice a really heavy one.

**jessica38** · 24-04-2009, 07:43 AM

Thanks for all your replies. I think I will sow some more seeds direct & see how I do with them.

**chrispy** · 24-04-2009, 07:49 AM

these went in direct, 31st march......got a bit carried away though........must have been the sunshine and cider...ooops

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**jacob marley** · 24-04-2009, 08:22 AM

I have three row's sown direct but tomorow i shall be sliding some Allderman out of some guttering they seem to go better that way they are about 4 inche's high at moment..

..jacob

**Demeter** · 24-04-2009, 07:10 PM

Originally posted by chrispy View Post

these went in direct, 31st march......got a bit carried away though........must have been the sunshine and cider...ooops

Gosh you do have a lot!
Thin them out a bit, you can eat the young shoots whole, or make pea soup with them. Yum!

**brooklynodog** · 24-04-2009, 07:19 PM

I put my peas out too early down the allotment. I think it was too cold so they hung about before germinating, and the mice had every single one! About 4 oz of them.

**Norm** · 24-04-2009, 08:10 PM

Originally posted by jessica38 View Post

Every year it's the same & this year seems to be no exception.
I manage to get my peas/mangetout to germinate and grow 3/4 inches tall. All healthy looking I plant them out on the allotment & then they don't grow any more, become pale & yellow & die. Please can you tell me how you all grow your peas.

I start mine off in pots, usually 7 in an 8" pot. Then when they get to about 6"-8", they get ejected from the pot and unrolled into an 8" deep slot with a bit of muck in the bottom, earthed up about half an inch deeper than they were in the pot and puddled in. Works for me every time.

**gojiberry** · 24-04-2009, 08:22 PM

After years of failure I have been sowing mine in gutters in the greenhouse. As soon as they have germinated the are move away from the heat for a few days then put into a lean to without a front on and finally into the lottie. Usually takes about 5 weeks from sowing to lottie by which time the peas are about inch to inch and a half high. I plant them about an inch spacing and a double row in each gutter. I only use short gutters which fit two to a standard size seed tray. I always use felthan first at the start of the season and the use whatever maincrop I have available later in the season. This year it is hurst greenshaft.

Ian

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Please give me your top tips for growing peas

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