Starting Peas Indoors

[Currysniffa]

So I'm going to try Peas this year and I don't want to direct sow them on the plot, so my question is do I drop them in a bag of damp compost as I do with my broad beans and put them in a heated propagator (don't have a airing cupboard) or do I soak them overnight and just place them on some paper towel in the HP.

Please let me know what you think is the best way to get as many as possible to germinate..

Thank you

[Croila]

I grew peas for the first time last year - I sowed them in toilet roll innards with normal compost and kept them indoors, then planted them out still in the toilet rolls, which just rotted down. I'd say 95% germinated.

This year I bought some "proper" root trainer thingies with lids and just sowed a load on Sunday there. I didn't soak the peas last year and they grew absolutely fine, and I didn't soak them this time either.

[Alison]

They don't need much heat to germinate, I've done a couple of sowings already this year, the first lot were inside in the conservatory (no heat though, they'll go leggy / rot) and the second lot in the unheated greenhouse (although they did have a plastic cover on until germination. Both sets were done in guttering, sowed at the spacing I want as a double row and supported in seed trays (ie the guttering is cut to length so manageable). When I want to plant out there is no individual planting, I just dig a shallow trench and then slide out the seeds. A doddle. Some people prechit but there's no need and it's more work.

[dirtgirl]

I tried starting peas off in a damp bag in the airing cupboard a couple of years ago, but they rotted, so now I still start them off inside, but without any heat

[Croila]

They don't need much heat to germinate, I've done a couple of sowings already this year, the first lot were inside in the conservatory (no heat though, they'll go leggy / rot) and the second lot in the unheated greenhouse (although they did have a plastic cover on until germination.

That's interesting ... I'm thinking it would maybe be better to move my seed trays of peas out to the cold frame, then, rather than keeping them inside the conservatory as that can get pretty warm during the day? The temperatures outside are still going below freezing at night, and the max (if we're lucky!) is ranging between 2 degrees and 7. I only got the cold frame the other week so I don't actually know how much warmer than "outside" temperature the pea seeds would be inside it.

I'm wondering if I put them out in the cold frame will they still germinate, given I only sowed them on Sunday? They're in root trainers with a clear plastic cover at the moment.

I like the sound of the guttering!

Any advice gratefully appreciated!

[VirginVegGrower]

So I'm going to try Peas this year and I don't want to direct sow them on the plot, so my question is do I drop them in a bag of damp compost as I do with my broad beans and put them in a heated propagator (don't have a airing cupboard) or do I soak them overnight and just place them on some paper towel in the HP.

Please let me know what you think is the best way to get as many as possible to germinate..

Thank you

I planted mine into guttering, currently sitting in the greenhouse and they are going out to the lottie on Friday for planting and cloching.

[Croila]

I planted mine into guttering, currently sitting in the greenhouse and they are going out to the lottie on Friday for planting and cloching.

Hmmmm. It's the cloching bit that puts me off ... I don't have any and the places I plan to put the peas don't lend themselves very well to cloches either because of size/space issues.

Think I will just have to wait a bit for the weather to get warmer

[VirginVegGrower]

Hmmmm. It's the cloching bit that puts me off ... I don't have any and the places I plan to put the peas don't lend themselves very well to cloches either because of size/space issues.

Think I will just have to wait a bit for the weather to get warmer

Why not lay down some plastic and peg it in order to warm your soil up. Give it a couple of weeks and sow end March. Should germinate OK by then.

I only sow at home then plant out on lottie as we have nibbling pea issues with the mice.

[Croila]

That's a good idea, actually, warm up the soil! I think I will do. I think here in Edinburgh we're generally three weeks behind the standard recommended UK sowing times, as they seem to be based on the southern English climate. So, maybe seeing as my peas were just sown on Sunday, they might be ready to put in the ground late April?

Mice, ugh. I spilt a packet of bird seed in our garage a couple of weeks ago and now we have mice in there. Horrible things. My husband's doing something with traps and poison, dunno what, I'm keeping RIGHT out of it!

[Jono]

I grow mine in containers. Don't know why, but germination and yield has been much better.

I sowed my first of this year on Sunday. Have had a sheet of glass over the container for a couple of weeks to warm the soil, and left it on there until seeds germinate. Not done it like this before, so interested to see how it goes.

[Croila]

I grow mine in containers. Don't know why, but germination and yield has been much better.

I've got loads of pots, and loads of places to PUT pots (and not so much soil), so I'm going to try a pot of peas as well as sticking them in the ground. See what happens

I sowed my first of this year on Sunday. Have had a sheet of glass over the container for a couple of weeks to warm the soil, and left it on there until seeds germinate. Not done it like this before, so interested to see how it goes.

Am interested to know how big the container is, please? (Hey, I never said I wasn't nosy!)

[arpoet]

I soak peas for a few hours in warm water then put 2 in a compost filled newpaper pot. I set 20 pots in the greenhouse this week and carry on every week until the end of april.
I will just drop a few of last years saved seeds Under the paper pot when i plant em out when conditions seem right. I have a lot of little mice in my back garden so dont mind scattering a few seeds around where they live. The boss puts lots of wild bird seeds out and we often watch the mice picking us the discarded seeds.
Roger

[Two_Sheds]

I chit all my peas & beans first, so I can see which ones are viable, and I don't waste time & compost on those that don't germinate.

In boxes like this: pea sprouter | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Croila, sow a hardy (smooth pea) variety now, and a summer one (wrinkled pea) when you warm up

[Croila]

I chit all my peas & beans first, so I can see which ones are viable, and I don't waste time & compost on those that don't germinate.

In boxes like this: pea sprouter | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Croila, sow a hardy (smooth pea) variety now, and a summer one (wrinkled pea) when you warm up

Ah. That IS interesting. Well ... I sowed 32 round plus 32 wrinkly at the weekend, but now I'm wishing I'd chitted them first. I was planning to sow more in a couple of weeks, however, so I'll try I then.

Can I just check, please ... What you do is dampen a bit of kitchen paper, lay the peas on top and keep them in a clear tub or under something which the light will get into? Would you then put it on a windowsill? How long do the peas take to germinate (if they do germinate)?

Thank you SO much for all the advice - again!

[Two_Sheds]

What you do is dampen a bit of kitchen paper, lay the peas on top and keep them in a clear tub or under something which the light will get into?

- soak the seeds overnight in tepid water - I use a glass or plastic dish, it doesn't much matter
- in the morning, drain the water off
- cover peas with damp kitchen paper (optional, but it keeps the moisture in)
- rinse them every day
- when chitted I put the lids on to take them up the lotty

Would you then put it on a windowsill?

They are on a windowsill from day one: I'm not allowed to have seeds & plants anywhere other than windowsills

How long do the peas take to germinate

within 2-4 days at room temp