Starting peas in pots?

[LostthePlot]

As the title says I would like to know if I can start my Early Onward peas in pots and then plant out once they are 6" or so high? I dont' want to bother with the mice 'will they, won't they eat 'em' problem. If so how many peas can I put in the pot and what size?

[shirlthegirl43]

I think that starting them in pots might result in very tangled roots - unless you mean one per pot. Modules or root trainers are alternatives, or I have seen many suggestions on here to start them in lengths of guttering at final planting spacing and then slide the whole lot into a 'trench' once they are ready to plant out.

[john.tate]

Hii lostthePlot I always start my peas in toilet paper cardboard tubes two per tube, this gives a strong root groth pick out the smallest one when they are four to six inch. plant tube one inch. above ground level. hope this is as good to you as it has been for me. good luck . john.tate

[Poledragon]

I did my 'regular' peas in guttering last year and it was an excellent method - got extremely good results. My heritage seed library peas went into root trainers and again, did well.

I've tried loo rolls in preious years and they worked, although went mouldy around the edges and if you leave any cardboard above soil level when planting out, they dry out very fast.

[Alison]

Have started a few in 4 or 5" pots in the past and not had any problem with roots tangline up but would agree that it's far less effort to either use the guttering method or root trainers / toilet rolls.

[Protea]

After far too many failed attempts at sowing peas direct i went for the guttering method last summer. It worked well, but unfortunately i left it too long before i planted them out and had a tangled mass of stems that were a bit on the floppy side!! I think you need to make sure they are planted out when only a couple of inches high.

Talking of peas - i never seem to be able to get the support right. I've tried using netting (pea and bean stuff) and it never seems to work, my budget won't stretch to hazel twigs as suggested by Monty Don and others - what sort of 'pea sticks' can i use and when do i put them in??

My love of peas is a one way street so far - they seem to hate me!

[Getoffmylande]

Protea, last year i didn't get my peas in till late and supported them by using thin wire supported around short bamboo canes. You can weave the plants in between the lenghts of wire at first and then they will wind their own merry little way. Another useful piece of kit is the plastic that you can buy from wilko's for a fiver and put this in between the plants.I also saw someone down our allotments last year who had the orange plastic cut into half height and wrapped it around each row.

[Protea]

Protea, last year i didn't get my peas in till late and supported them by using thin wire supported around short bamboo canes. You can weave the plants in between the lenghts of wire at first and then they will wind their own merry little way. Another useful piece of kit is the plastic that you can buy from wilko's for a fiver and put this in between the plants.I also saw someone down our allotments last year who had the orange plastic cut into half height and wrapped it around each row.

I tried string round bamboo canes last year in the manner you describe - but it went a bit slack, i'll try the wire.

Can you explain what this plastic from Wilko's look like - i'm not quite sure what you mean!

Many thanks (p.s. love the user name )

[Two_Sheds]

Last year I used some Blackthorn (I think?) branches as pea sticks. Ruddy brilliant until I tried to pick the peas, and got savaged by the thorns.

[vicki lorraine]

Any strong prunings will do. Hazel or birch is reccommended by Monty Don. But other books suggest any strong winter prunings.

[serenity]

I did initally try the pea netting but got in such a tangle trying to pull it out to a managable size. then found attaching it to the poles I had was a complete nightmare I ended up using some expanding trelis made of some kind of branches. Tied a bamboo cane to each end and sunk these into the ground. It worked perfectly. I got them last year from morrisons, 2 for a fiver and are still in great condition for this years peas.

[LostthePlot]

I am going to sow some peas into individual pots to try them like this. I have soaked them overnight and I will leave them for a day before sowing. Then I am going to put them into my makeshift coldframe (a big clear plastic storage box, with a glazed frame on top) which will sit on my deck in a sunny spot. Along with sweet peas, some cabbages, brussels and leeks. I am just experimenting with this and any failures will leave me with plenty of time to go 'conventional'. Fingers crossed.

[Alice]

That's the way, Losttheplot. Try it and see what works for you. If it goes wrong you've lost a few seeds. If it works, you're weeks ahead. Keep notes of what you did because you won't remember next year, and it would be a shame to loose that information. Good luck with the project and share the info with us.

[NEWTO THE PLOT]

I know this is going to make me look more stupid than normal,but after you soaked the pea seed which way up should you plant them the shoot up or down???

[sewer rat]

Shoot up - but don't worry about it too much - the plant will right itself 99% of the time - after all, when peas are direct sown, who bothers to look and see what way up the pea is - or who can tell for that matter - or who really cares. Nature has a way of keeping us right !!