Sugar snaps & other peas ...

[Crisiwisi]

.... I don't have a great deal of success with peas generally and would be grateful for any advice!

My favourites are undoubtedly sugar snaps because of their versatility when it comes to eating them (raw, whole, sliced or left to fatten up) but I never do very well with any type.

Germination is iffy, with many rotting off. I've even tried soil-less germination (eg. on kitchen paper) and, although many appear to get going ok, most don't survive the potting up process - how critical is temperature??

Plants that do make it to the netting/pea-stick stage seem to grow ok at first to about 2.5 feet and then become rather feeble. And those that do survive don't seem to have much staying power - a couple of weeks and they're done.

I garden on chalk and am not brilliant about getting lots of compost into the plot, though I'd normally give the area some 6X or a few handfuls from the compost heap. I water adequately, I'm sure.

Stop me getting disheartened , please!

[mazel-bee]

I can't really help as this year is the first time I am planting peas since I was a kid helping my dad in the garden.
Chin up, i'm sure this is your lucky year!!

[john.tate]

Hello Crisiwise. suger snap are my most bounty full, I fork over where seeds are to go I use chicken peetles a week or two before setting seeds, I start seeds on damp kitchen paper over night, then using tubs from toilet rools, I put two seeds in each tube which stand in water a few days, have a tray at hand with water only about half an inch, and stand tubes in threes with elestic bands on, stops them from falling over, when fouf leaves show take out weakest then plant tubes where required, hope this gives you some idea's. Best of luck hope this helps. J.tate