Peas - why can't I grow them????

[posie]

Ok I'm getting seriously annoyed now.  I've direct sown some peas, nothing - probably slugs or birds or mice or perhaps even the couch grass eating them (nothing would surprise me).  I've tried 3 times to sow some in pots, watered from top, kept moist, kept less moist, watered from bottom, it's good organic soil but they just won't flaming germinate!

What am I doing wrong??????????? AAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!

Can you tell I'm frustrated!!!

[posie]

[manicscousers]

are they all the same variety, posie..
I went and bought some new pea seed from lidl and have 100% germination, tried 3 times before that,very poor  ???

[posie]

Yep, had 2 packets, bought at same time, tried both - hmmm think I may go buy myself some more if it's not too late......

[Rosyred]

This year has been the first year that I manged to grow them. I think you can sow main crop still. Good luck - Maybe change the area you are trying to grow & direct sow somewhere else.

[ceres]

Posie, germinate them indoors on damp kitchen paper first, only tales a couple of days and at least you know you're not sowing duds.

[PurpleHeather]

looks like the toilet roll tubes need to come out again. lol

[Uncle Joshua]

Very strange...

Have you tried Kelvedon Wonder? I have used them for years and have never had a bad crop.

[Sinbad7]

Posie, they are half price in Wilkinson's, which makes them 49p a packet.  I bought some on Friday sowed them in pots and put them in a propergator yesterday and they have started to germinate today, only a couple mind but they have started.

Good luck

Sinbad

[loopyloulou]

i agree with the kitchen paper jobby, did that with mine in a jar and it worked, just dont leave them too long or in a hot place as they can go mouldy n mushy n yuck, lol! they do stink when they do that  :-[ cant u just teell i forgot to pot some on....

[debster]

i had a huge amount of peas last year but this year i am struggling too and runner beans arent anywhere as near as good either!

[kt.]

Last year was my first year with success for peas.

Kelvedon wonder peas were sown in fresh multipurpose compost, in lengths of guttering between 18-24inches long,  about 3" apart, two rows opposite ni a zig-zag.   This is ideal for transplanting with minimum disturbance to the pea plants. When transplanting, dig a small channel where the peas will go into the ground, water peas in the guttering then slide them from the guttering into the channel. Perfect.

Watering them prior to transplanting makes it easier to slide them all off the guttering into the shallow trench without disturbing any roots. This was my first year using the guttering with peas and I had 100% germination with each plant approximately 2 inches high.

I had 3 or 4 successional sowings, all germinated and all produced heavy crop.  Kelvedon peas can be sown as an early or late pea crop.

[Clayhithe]

The mice get them before they germinate.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Unless it's birds. I find covering mine makes all the difference as long as the soil's warm. If it is mice, dipping them in paraffin to make them taste nasty would help.