Garden Peas

[Reks]

Hi
I planted some garden peas around 3-4 weeks back in a gutter and for initial 1week they were indoors after which I moved them to a unheated outdoor plastic covered green house. They have been very slow germinating and I can now see around 5 of them giving out shoots.
I decided to plant some more garden peas but this time I soaked them for 2 hrs and then planted them in small pots, covered with cling and left them in the boiler cupboard hoping that this will make then germinate quicker.
Is it normal for peas to take 3-4 weeks to germinate? will leaving them in the boiler cupboard speed the germination? Th weather is pants ...not much sun since last few days in Reading so not sure what else can I do to keep the pots in a warm place.

[Flummery]

I only tried the gutter method once - it was such a faff getting them to slide from the gutter to the soil! Mine don't usually take more than a couple of weeks to germinate. Sometimes I soak, sometimes I forget! To be honest, unless they are heritage types, I find it easier to sow direct. Peas are very hardy as a rule.

[zazen999]

I pop mine into modules, they take on average 3-4 weeks to get to a size ready for transplanting at this time of year, and mine are all germinated outdoors so they won't need hardening off. They might well be too hot in cling film and in a boiler cupboard....are you sure they haven't frazzled?

[Reks]

well these went into the boiler cupboard only the day before. Should I move them into my living room or another room indoors or put them out in the unheated green house?

[zazen999]

As I said, I grow mine outdoors, so an unheated greenhouse would be the best option.

They may take a bit longer to germinate, but they grow harder and stronger.

Alternatively, take them out of the compost, and germinate them in a plastic bag on damp kitchen roll, and then put them into the compost when they have germinated.

They really only take days to sprout, if warm and damp - so something must be upsetting them. Have you had a dig around to see if they have rotted or dried up?

[Flummery]

I think they are too warm. They are tough old things, yer average peas.

[Reks]

I dug into the gutter and found many seeds dried up and gone kinda powdery. I will remove the good plants into modules and plant more tonight. I have moved the indidual pots from my boiler cupboard into the unheated green house. I hope they all germinate ok.

[Redpepper]

Theres still time to make direct sowings outdoors in the veggie bed.
As the weather is nice, have a go at planting some outside and I'm sure they will be fine Sounds to me like your indoor ones are too warm.

[Reks]

Theres still time to make direct sowings outdoors in the veggie bed.
As the weather is nice, have a go at planting some outside and I'm sure they will be fine Sounds to me like your indoor ones are too warm.

Redpepper i have now moved all my peas into my unheated greehouse that I always leave open during the day. I'll try to plant some direct too.

[Two_Sheds]

As the others have said: peas are a cool-weather vegetable.

If you want to see germination happening, have some in a bowl/glass and rinse them every day in cool water. Within a few days some will start to sprout ... you can them plant them.

[sweetiepea]

I start mine in gutters in an unheated greenhouse so I can get a head start early on. They are hardy and will be quite happy sown direct outside. Keep them damp and cool and they'll reward you with a delicious bounty.

[Reks]

I tried mine in gutters and failed miserably But some of my newly planted peas are slowly sprouting

[Alison]

Planted the first lot in a cold greenhouse in gutters and they're now half way up the pea netting on the plot. Anything sown now will just get a direct sowing and come up when it does. The last lot I planted took just over 2 weeks outside in the soil.