Peas rotting in pot (again)

**cariann88** · 15-03-2015, 11:11 AM

Maybe your over watering?

**WendyC** · 15-03-2015, 11:11 AM

I do find with peas it can be difficult to get the balance of moisture right. I sown mine in short lengths of gutter supported in a seed tray. I water them and don't water again until the peas start to grow. The only exception to this would be if we have an exceptionally warm spell and I can see the compost is really dry.

**Martin H** · 15-03-2015, 11:24 AM

I'm getting much better germination rates for everything since I've started doing what a member on here (might be Kristen?) suggested. That is to moisten the multipurpose compost before potting so that a handful just sticks together when squeezed without any water running out.

To do this I just sieve the compost into my potting tray, sprinkle water on it from the can with a rose and then mix it up with my hands, adding more water or more compost if I've guessed the wrong amount.

Once it passes the squeeze test, fill the containers and sow with no extra water. If in the process my hands are frozen, I put the compost somewhere warm for a bit before I do the sowing.

I've found that if I do it the way I used to with soil-based composts, which was to drench it until water runs through, multipurpose gets far too wet and soggy. This way lets me be consistent every time.

So thank you for that tip, whoever you are.

**pepper1000** · 15-03-2015, 11:46 AM

I have always had this problem too, this year i followed advice from someone who grows sweetpeas for exhibition. i was told to half fill the cell trays with compost, water them well then fill them up with more compost but no more water, sow the seeds in the dryer compost cover with propagator lid and do not water again until germinated. I was so tempted to water them but just left them, i have had 2 trays of sweetpeas and 4 trays of garden peas all germinate this way not one of them rotted.

**Guest** · 15-03-2015, 12:01 PM

Don't cover them. I have never covered peas and beans. I should imagine in 2 weeks that has had condensation and made the issue worse.

**TrysHard** · 15-03-2015, 01:36 PM

My peas have yet to show - over 2 weeks, now I fear they may have rotted - I take heed of the advice above and try another batch.

Even though I am aware of the issue I think I tend to over water.

**Bren In Pots** · 15-03-2015, 02:51 PM

After reading here on the vine I always pre-chit my peas in a trays before sowing them, just wait until you see them sprouting then pop them in compost.
Mine go into a length of guttering then after they've been hardened off its easy to slide the whole lot into a pre-dug channel in my bed.

**Potstubsdustbins** · 15-03-2015, 03:07 PM

Like Bren I followed 2 Sheds advice.

I put them in a plastic takeaway container about tea time, cover them with water and leave over night. The next morning I rinse them off and drain the water, I then rinse them every day until they sprout, look just like little tadpoles, then plant in moist compost. Full germination rate has been over 90% since I started doing this.

**Jonny.D** · 15-03-2015, 03:55 PM

Thanks for all the advice, I had a similar problem last year :-)

**sparrow100** · 15-03-2015, 04:22 PM

Sounds like too much water to me - and I've just done something similar with a batch of mine. I soaked mine for 30 minutes, every one rotted. This time, in damp compost (not wet) and uncovered I have 97% germination.

**Knight of Albion** · 15-03-2015, 04:37 PM

Water the compost before sowing. Sow the seed and leave it.
We certainly haven't had temperatures that would warrant auxiliary watering. If you over water you're more than likely to encourage rot.

In general terms I would always err on the side of under watering. The logic being, searching for moisture is going to encourage healthy development of the plant's root system. Something that is applicable wheter in pots or in the soil.

For once it is a case of 'the tail wagging the dog', so to speak. A flourishing root system is going to determine the plant's above soil growth/fruiting

**mothhawk** · 15-03-2015, 04:56 PM

The only way I can get peas (and sweet peas) to grow is either to chit them first, as Bren says, or to sow them in little dents in damp compost, without covering them over so they are exposed to the light. That probably stops them getting too wet, I don't know, but when I cover them completely, they always rot.

**Bigmallly** · 15-03-2015, 05:33 PM

NG beat me to it. Covering causes condensation thereby adding excess water. If you are growing in a heated prop, open the vents.

**Alison** · 15-03-2015, 05:58 PM

I'm somewhat forgetful and quite lazy plus very busy during the week, all of which leads to under watering which seems to be to my advantage here

. I just fill the guttering with compost, shove the seeds in with my finger and water with a fine rose. The first ones got a plastic propagator on them in the coldish conservatory (no further heat required), the second lot were in the same location but no cover and the next lot will be done in the greenhouse. The early ones are now in the polytunnel bed and the next ones still in guttering in the cold greenhouse.

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Peas rotting in pot (again)

Peas rotting in pot (again)

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