Topic: sweet peas germination

[plotstoeat]

I bought two pkts of T&M sweet pea seeds. I soaked them both overnight, sowed them and put them in warm. One lot has 50% germination; the other zero. It's about three weeks now; should I extract the seeds and soak them again or just hope they will come up eventually? Or complain to T&M?

[pumkinlover]

I would have a furtle and see if they have rotted

[laurieuk]

They really do not need to be soaked before sowing. If you sow them about 10 in a 5" half pot , give them a good drink and then leave them alone until they all show you should get at least 98 % germination. We used to chip the darker ones but that does not seem necessary now. I have had 2 seeds out of  60 fail to show, I singled them out into individual pots yesterday. I have grown them as cordons for over 50 years.

[Digeroo]

I am certainly not an expert like Laurie but I would normally expect near 100% from sweet peas.  Perhaps the compost was too wet.  I think I might has a little firkle to see what is going on.  Perhaps they came up and got eaten off.  Mice or slugs can be very quick.