Growing peas another way - maybe?

[veggiechicken]

I have lots of old pea seeds. Several years out of date and no guarantees that they will germinate.

I could:-

1. test a few for viability - but since all the packets of peas have been mixed together, it would be pointless.

2. cover trays with them and hope to grow pea shoots but I could do that with fresh peas with better results/

3. broadcast them randomly.

4. dig little pits and bury them.

5. throw them away.

Any more options and what would you do??

[Chestnut]

Get a pet rodent?

[Starch]

Leave in the greenhouse for the mice to eat so they don’t have to dig up the ones you’ve sown

[nickdub]

I'd probably put them on wet kitchen roll paper in plastic boxes and leave them somewhere warm. Then any that did germinate I'd pick out and pop in the garden somewhere -the soil is pretty warm for the time of year - I've done this with old pea seed myself once or twice - sometimes you get a few plants but as often as not none of the seeds are viable, so all you can do then, is chuck them on the compost heap.

[Guest]

find a hollow tube and sit up the window ready to fire them at unwanted guests (they are hard and well dried, they will sting more than fresh ones)

NG runs away quickly chanting 'must not be a bad influence'

[Small pumpkin]

I’d go with options 2 & 3

[Bren In Pots]

Plant some in buckets and leave them in a GH.

[bramble]

Soak them for 24 hours and then plant them in the greenhouse border.

[Jungle Jane]

2. cover trays with them and hope to grow pea shoots but I could do that with fresh peas with better results/

I’d do this or wait till March & sow direct outside in the “P” bed

[lottie dolly]

Put them to soak,any that chit pot on,the rest to the girls,see,nothing wasted.

[ameno]

If they are all mixed up, and therefore you don't know what variety is what, then personally I wouldn't bother growing them for peas.
I'd say you should either grow them for pea shoots, or broadcast them on vacant soil and use them as a green manure.

[Bonjour]

Make soup?

[muckdiva]

Bung them in a pot of compost to take their chances. If any germinate you can say they are a new charity of eternal peas called ‘Survivor’

[veggiechicken]

Thanks everyone for your inspiring replies.
I've given them all very careful consideration and, regretfully, I have to discount some.

Pet rodents are a No-No as they might upset the resident wildlife that have first dibs on all the peas in the GH.
Soup is out as some of the peas may have been treated with summat - and I'm sure you don't want me to have a queasy peasy tum!
Pea shooter is a possibility - its a long time sine I've shot peas.!

Of the other suggestions, they narrow down to...........
Germinating on paper/ soaking and planting the viable ones.
Soaking the peas and planting in GH.
Planting in GH in buckets.
Growing for pea shoots
Broadcasting in ground for green manure/cropping.

I don't want to choose one for fear of upsetting the rest of you so, I will try everything!
I do have rather a lot of peas!!

First up tonight will be putting some to soak in water and on damp paper.................

[SarrissUK]

Make soup?

Doh.. you beat me to it!!