Starting peas off in 3" pots?

[Digitalis]

I was going to start my pea seeds off in the ground where they are to grow, but the area isn't ready yet and may not be for a while. So I'm hoping to get a head start by sowing them in 3" pots in my mini greenhouse.

Is that possible?

I know that the roots dont like being disturbed........

If not, would you siggest I planted them in pots made out of newspaper? If so..........:

-How many to each pot if each is to be the circumfrence of a toilet roll?

-Do I need to cut a hole in the bottom when I plant the paper pot in the ground?

Any other suggestions would be great!

[Digitalis]

[lushy86]

I have sown mine in pots for the same reason, the frist lot appear to be doing well in my little plastic greenhouse

Lushy x

[Toadspawn]

I gave up planting most seeds directly into the soil years ago because of failures resulting in gaps in the rows.
I sow peas in modules in the GH in multi purpose compost. I put 4 seeds in each module in a tray containing 24. When the seedlings are about 3" tall they are transplanted into rows in the garden. No real care taken, water the tray well and then just hold each clump of seedlings and gently pull out of the tray. The roots are so well developed thewhole clump comes out easily. Put into drills in the garden each clump about 2-3" apart so I end up with short rows but with lots of plants in each one. No problems so far because they have always produced a good crop of peas.   

[reddyreddy]

I always start off in the greenhouse and would plant one pea per loo roll and plant the whole thing - make sure it is well watered before planting as the loo roll can get quite dry.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I start them off in three-inch pots, and plant out when they're well established. It works fine.

[Tee Gee]

I do mine in modular trays as seen here;
http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Peas/Peas/peas.html

As I plant these out I sow another batch to prolong the season.

In the slide show one row is pre-germinated the next row is sown insitu.

The reason for four rows is I grow two different varieties.

[Busy Bee]

I started mine off in pots. Was told not to as they don't like being disturbed but they are doing fine. I also sowed some direct, went to plot today to find a hole where i presume a mouse had supper last night!!!  I did however lose all but one of my beans i started off in pots so i've had to sow these direct with some spare in pots just in case.

[Twoflower]

i start mine in guttering, wait until they are about 2" tall and then just slide then out.

[RobinOfTheHood]

i start mine in guttering, wait until they are about 2" tall and then just slide then out.

Likewise, but mine are about 6" now.  Must get them in...... :)

[sawfish]

I plant about 5 per 3 inch pot and plant them out. You can seperate the roots OK, I find they come back in a few days.

Guttering is even better.

I prefer the older varieties of tall pea as you get more peas and they tend to crop over a longer period. The newer varieies are often developed to be cropped agriculturally over a shorter time.

[Bjerreby]

My experience is that peas are nearly as quick to germinate as radishes, so I wouldn't bother sowing in pots. I'd sow an early (= quick maturing) variety later on, and hope the summer doesn't turn out too hot.

[Robert_Brenchley]

The reason I plant in pots is nothing to do with germination; it's to stop the birds getting most of them! The only way I can germinate them in the open is to cover them, and that doesn't work so well when I'm growing them up wigwams.