Pea'ved!

[Jackbb]

Hello to you all - newbies first post so go easy on me!

I have decided (like so many) to hit the GYO trail this summer and have already caught the bug so bad I have 4 raised beds already up with a variety of goodies planted.

So far, so good, apart from my Waverex peas. I initially grew from seed and in pots on my windowsill and planted out once they looked strong enough to cope about 3 weeks ago now but they still look exactly the same size and have hardly grown at all, they still look healthy though.

Any reasons why they are refusing to grow and climb up the pea sticks I have so lovingly set out for them?? I did remove them from their initial pots so do you think that they suffered any 'shock' during the transplanting?

Or am I being impatient? They are in a semi-sun filled spot (5 hours per day perhaps).

Any help greatly appreciated.

Jack

[oldie]

Did you harden them off before putting them out? They may just be in shock if you did not, but will probably recover. Personally I never start peas off in pots, it's easier to wait a little and sow direct. Some people sow them in a length of guttering and then ease them out of that into a prepared trench - save root disturbance. Although I sow direct I do sprout them first on a damp kitchen towel until the shoot just begins and carefully sow from there. I believe that mice don't like them so much when they have begun to sprout. If you put your location into your profile it will make it easier for grapes to give advice.

[PrideRavyn]

I am a newbie also and have taken two different routes with my peas just to see which works best -I planted some sugar snap peas direct in the soil which are now up above ground and doing well, some are now 2-3 inches high and all seem to be thriving. I also bought some cheap plugs which I planted and originally seemed to be doing well and growing but they have now slowed down, or at least it seems that way But they still seem healthy and alive so I am just guessing they are growing root rather than top so to speak!

Maybe it could be the same for yours - or maybe the move was a bit of a shock to them - have you been covering them at night? Mine are still being fleeced every night (tricky as it is with the poles!) as I am too wimpy to make them fend for themselves!

[Flummery]

I always start them off in pots - prevents mice getting there first! I find if you give them a few days out in the day then back in at night, (hardening off) they don't get too much shock on transplant. They have had a tough time of it with weather in the last few weeks though. I'm sure they'll get off shortly. It doesn't hurt to give them a hint with a bit of string till they get climbing properly.

Good luck with them - and welcome to The Grapevine!

[Jackbb]

Oldie - thanks for the tip - i have added location.

I am in Kent so weather hasn't been too bad so I haven't been fleecing but I did 'harden out' early on. Might try and grow from seed too.

Flummery - thanks. i do have some string at the bottom of my bamboo canes to give them a leg up so fingers crossed. Maybe with some sun and warmer weather i'll see a marked improvement. Maybe patience is the answer!!

[Shadylane]

Mine sat there and did nowt for a while too. I sowed mine in loo rolls and planted the whole thing but there were roots coming out the bottom so they did have some inevitable disturbance I suppose. I think it probably takes them a while to settle their roots before they start to grow. Sweat peas were the same, although they still look pathetic

[Jackbb]

Shadylane - how are the peas doing now then? are they climbing fast? read somewhere on here this morning that someone had already harvested some peas and eaten!

[Florence Fennel]

I'm only doing dwarf this year and even then only for the grandchildren to pick and eat, but they are really, really slow. Some are from loo rolls and I have sowed direct in between to succession it. They'll make a sudden spurt I'm sure. Be patient!

[Flobalob]

I'm glad i done the majority of my peas in pots. The ones sown direct in the ground have failed miserably..and I have no idea why !
With direct sowing even if there is a small percentage of the peas failing, it must be very hard to recouperate the loss in terms of trying again.
At least with them pre-grown you can 'set your stall out, so to speak.

[annacruachan]

Like yours, Jack, my Waverex peas are at a standstill, primarily I think because it's still so darned cold. They do look healthy though, and I'm hoping that they will survive the coming frosts.

Sweet peas by contrast are racing away!

[Shadylane]

Shadylane - how are the peas doing now then? are they climbing fast? read somewhere on here this morning that someone had already harvested some peas and eaten!

No definitely not climbing fast but they are growing and some have flowers. I'd say about 6 - 8inch maybe. They're getting nibbled by the weevils which doesn't seemed to have helped.

I read that too can't remember where but maybe they overwintered them in a greenhouse/polytunnel or maybe they haven't been graced with the seemingly never ending cold that we have.