Sickly peas

[Curlykale]

Sorry - yet another question from me!

I planted out some very healthy mangetout seedlings about 2 weeks ago, but they are now looking very sickly, yellow and skinny.

Am I right in thinking it is just down to the dry weather? They are in a raised bed and I am struggling to keep it watered enough, although I give it a good soaking whenever I am there. The soil constantly looks parched and is cracked on top. I was going to put some newspapers down, wet them then put home made compost on top. Would that help? Or is there anything else I can do that would perk them up again? There are broad beans in the same bed and they look really healthy.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Sorry - yet another question from me!

I planted out some very healthy mangetout seedlings about 2 weeks ago, but they are now looking very sickly, yellow and skinny.

I'm guessing that it's the cold that is setting them back - some peas are hardier than others, and if you had them in pots in shelter before you planted them out, it might be a bit of a shock to the system for them.

Broad beans are hardy indeed and the recent cooler weather won't bother them a jot.

Don't go mad with the water - check by bodging your finger well down into the soil if it is truely dry at their roots rather than just dry on the first inch or so.

[Two_Sheds]

I planted out some very healthy mangetout seedlings about 2 weeks ago

Did you harden them off ?

[Curlykale]

Did you harden them off ?

Yes, TS they were hardened off over about 2 weeks - under cloche at night and out in the day first, then outside 24/7 for about a week.

Is it too late to sow some more in case these give up the ghost?

[Flummery]

You can still sow peas. You can sow successionally with them as with many other vegetables.

[HeyWayne]

Isn't yellowing sometimes caused by hunger?

Have you put plenty of organic matter/feed in the soil to help them settle?

Might be worth making up some feed and using that next time you water them.