Peas

[Twynyrodyn]

Some peas have grown in loo tubes in the greenhouse, but the germination rate is not great. I read through the forum advice and tried damp kitchen towel, cotton wool balls even eye make up remover pads. Nothing! So I put them all in there various 'bases' in a Tupperware box in the fridge for 48 hours. Nothing! I have up and abandoned the Tupperware tub on the windowsill four days ago and thought that I would just take a quick look before throwing the peas away.....and guess what? Sprouting peas! Hurrah! Now wiser ones- how do I plant them without breaking the shoot? Does the shoot have to point up or down? MP compost or seed mix? Thank you in advance.

[veggiechicken]

The pointy up bit will be green, the pointy down bit white. I'm sure they'd work it out for themselves once in the ground anyway.
I buried the cotton wool with the peas, you could do the same with the paper.
Are you potting them on first - or planting straight out?

[Twynyrodyn]

Potting then on I think. I tried to link this to your earlier pea thread but I haven't worked out the search system yet.

[Thelma Sanders]

I put them all in there various 'bases' in a Tupperware box in the fridge for 48 hours

Why did you put them in the fridge? IMO this would discourage germination.
They just need gentle warmth to germinate - but you do have to be patient

[Zelenina]

There is a low level of nutrients in seed mix because it's just for starting delicate seedlings, but pea seedlings are big and strong so I think MP compost would be fine for them. In fact some people start everything in it and don't bother with seed compost at all.

[Jay-ell]

There is a low level of nutrients in seed mix because it's just for starting delicate seedlings, but pea seedlings are big and strong so I think MP compost would be fine for them. In fact some people start everything in it and don't bother with seed compost at all.

That'll be me then.

[scarey55]

That'll be me then.

And me Jay

[Twynyrodyn]

Why did you put them in the fridge? IMO this would discourage germination.
They just need gentle warmth to germinate - but you do have to be patient

I read somewhere that it prompts germination. I will try to re find the link.

[Twynyrodyn]

Why did you put them in the fridge? IMO this would discourage germination.
They just need gentle warmth to germinate - but you do have to be patient

Here is the link. It worked!
How to Plant Peas in a Damp Towel Overnight in the Fridge | Home Guides | SF Gate

[Zelenina]

Here is the link. It worked!
How to Plant Peas in a Damp Towel Overnight in the Fridge | Home Guides | SF Gate

Interesting! Maybe it did work, but my sceptical scientist brain says there was no control batch, and maybe they were just about ready to germinate anyway. It would really need to be tested with two identical batches, but one refrigerated and one not, to see which germinated first. I feel an experiment coming on. Anyone else want to try it?

[Jay-ell]

Just thinking the same thing Zel. It may have been the 4 days on the windowsill rather than the 48 hours in the fridge that done the trick, however I'll be sowing my Champion of England, Lord Leicester, Telephone and Boddingtons soon so I may soak them then split each batch to see if I get the same results.

Of course we could add scarification to the test as well - and possible a scarified stratified batch.

I'll shut up now otherwise I'll have so many possibilities they'll only be one pea per batch.

[Thelma Sanders]

Well Never heard of that before, it implies that peas need cold stratification - something new every day !

[veggiechicken]

Just thinking the same thing Zel. It may have been the 4 days on the windowsill rather than the 48 hours in the fridge that done the trick, however I'll be sowing my Champion of England, Lord Leicester, Telephone and Boddingtons soon so I may soak them then split each batch to see if I get the same results.

Of course we could add scarification to the test as well - and possible a scarified stratified batch.

I'll shut up now otherwise I'll have so many possibilities they'll only be one pea per batch.

Try them on different mediums too - paper towel, newspaper, compost and, of course, cotton wool

[veggiechicken]

Well Never heard of that before, it implies that peas need cold stratification - something new every day !

Might there be different results with wrinkled and round peas?

[Jay-ell]

I'm going to need more peas and a few extra fridges