Sugar snap chitting, too early?

[Scoot]

I have set a few away just to make sure the seeds were ok and they are. Just put my pea frames up so was wondering, is it worth chitting the lot now and them being ready to plant straight in in a week or so?

[Thelma Sanders]

Mine are going in tomorrow, once this blimmin wind drops.

[Scoot]

Yeah, it has been windy and rainy here the last few days. Hope the soil is TOO wet. Anyway, I need to chit them first before I put them in. Same goes for my broad beans.

[Alison]

I don't chit peas, mangetout or broad beans, makes them more liable to rotting. Do sow root trainers (broad beans) or guttering (peas / mange tout) so they get a better start with some protection though than direct swings. As far as sowing is concerned, fine to sow now.

[Scoot]

Does it really, I will just chuck them in as they are then.

Does ANYONE chit them before sowing them into the garden?

[veggiechicken]

I sow them in modules - don't plant much direct. Planted my mangetout out a few weeks ago.

[Alison]

Does ANYONE chit them before sowing them into the garden?

Some people do and if you don't leave them soaking for too long then it's fine, I can't guarantee I'll be able to plant out as soon as they chit so they end up rotting. Some people also chit then sow in modules / guttering, then plant out. I think that's adding extra and unnecessary stages but I'm quite lazy so whatever suits.

Also, never had any problems sowing direct, straight from the packet, just prefer not to as I can sow in the shed most days but only really at the lottie at the weekends.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Yes I chit them following advice from the Vine (2Sheds I believe) and have found if done the way that was recommended to me it is very successful.

I put them in a container covered with water overnight, next morning remove any floaters they are no good anyway. Drain the water and rinse with fresh water and drain again. Rinse every day until you see them shooting and plant up. Saves gaps in the line and for some reason the mice don't seem interested in them once they are chitted.

[unclefudgly]

Mine were in the ground 10 days ago and already shooting up, thanks to the warmest April on record apparently!

[Scoot]

So to chit or not to chit. Once agsin a totally split opinion when it comes to gardening.

[veggiechicken]

The answer's obvious Scoot. Chit half and direct sow the others...............
or
chit a third, start a third in modules and direct sow the other third.
S'easy

[Thelma Sanders]

If I'm just growing a few, then I chit and then pot up, before planting.

If I'm growing a rowful, then I direct sow generously, to allow for rotting, birds and slugs etc

[Bren In Pots]

I don't have a lot of space so don't want any gaps mine are chitted then sown in guttering. hopefully if the wind drops today I'll be planting them out.

[Scoot]

I was actually thinking of doing halfy half to be honest. I went and counted my peas just there and I had 87 left, so 43 are in water now and 44 are ready to go in the ground on Sunday at the same time as the chitted ones (I'm hoping they are ready by then).

[Potstubsdustbins]

I started chitting a second batch last night when I came to rinse them this morning some where already starting to show their little tails, should be going in the ground Friday.

Scoot don't forget to rinse them daily otherwise they will go mouldy.