Topic: Peas in Pots

[PakChoi]

You might have seen "Half-Pint" which is a pea plant only 12" tall, suggested for growing in a pot e.g. on a windowsill.  

Do peas need to be outside for at least a while to germinate?  I would have thought so.  Do you agree?

Thank you    

[PakChoi]

Did I say "germinate"?  D'oh, I meant "be pollinated".

eek.

[philcooper]

Peas have perfect flowers, this is a technical term meaning that all the bits necessary for pollination is contained within one flower.

To make sure the pollen gets to the right bits, just j.j.j.jiggle them a bit - as Arkwright would say

Phil

[john_miller]

You need to do a little more than j,j,j,jiggle pea flowers to pollinate them. They (and most other legumes) have evolved a mechanism that requires the keel (the lower lip) of the flower to be depressed (this would of course be done by a visiting insect outdoors) to force the stigma through the anthers to effect pollination. As Hugh pointed out when I mentioned this, concerning broad beans, it could be a very laborious process trying to replicate this action by hand! Hopefully a 'half-pint' pea doesn't have a lot of flowers.
Who is Arkwright?

[PakChoi]

Oh, definitely outside then.

I mentioned this variety because it is being given away free with orders from Simply Vegetables (Plants of Distinction).  Haven't used them before but was browsing their catalogue.

I grow other peas too but this one looks quite pretty as a patio-type plant.

[philcooper]

John,

Arkwright (Ronnie Barker) is the main character in a TV sitcom based in a northern shop - Open at all Hours. He has a stutter hence on one occasion he was heard to say that "all you have to do do is j-j-j-jiggle it about a bit"

Phil

I applied the principle to the manual polination of peas