Mangetout seedlings

[Midsummer]

Hi all. My mangetout seedlings have been in the ground for about 3 weeks now and under cover to protect from frost. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong; the leaves are a good colour but they don't seem to be doing any growing. Is it maybe a little too early or cold at the moment or is it something else. Would welcome the collective wisdom.

All the best Andy

[Small pumpkin]

Welcome to the vine
You’ve answered your own question. A bit early so still to cold. I won’t be sowing mine till mid April and that will be in the polytunnel. They’ll get planted out probably May.
I’d sow some more and keep them inside for a while if you can.

[SarrissUK]

Hi Andy,

I think it may well be the cold that is holding them back. It has all of a sudden turned really quite cold hasn't it? It's been hailing here all day on and off.

They are quite tender I think, so do keep them warm

[ameno]

It's probably the cold. Although peas are frost hardy (light frosts, anyway), they still won't do much actual growing in cold temperatures.

Another possibility is some sort of root infection. I had that last year, and they just sat there at 3 inches high for almost a month (this was in May) before finally getting going. Peas are quite susceptible to root infections.
It's still most probably the cold, though, so wait until things warm up before you go digging them up to check the roots.

[Thelma Sanders]

I also have some early peas under some polythene! As long as they aren't actually dead, I wouldn't worry. As soon as temperature/conditions suit them they will romp away, so you will get an earlier crop than people who wait.
I think it's worth trying an early sowing, it's only a few seeds lost if it doesn't work - and you feel really smug when it does