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Is it worth chitting peas? Everything's so late this year here in West Yorkshire that I haven't started my peas off yet. I don't like sowing direct because the mice eat them. I am going to  sow them in root trainer pots. Is it worth chitting them first? Many thanks
Jo (Glassprimitif)

Welcome to the forum, Jo.   

I wrap peas and beans in damp kitchen paper and put them into sandwich bags.  When they start to split, usually the next day, I plant them into pots or deep trays.  Root trainers would be ideal for peas as they don't like root disturbance, but as they are expensive, I haven't ever bought them.  Some people plant their peas in guttering but I haven't tried that method either.  Once the peas have a few green leaves, I transfer them to their final position in the garden, being careful not to disturb the roots. 

I also chit peas in damp paper and plastic box, because I can't bear making the effort to sow them, then find they don't all germinate - then I put them into long gutters. The gutters are so that they go out eventually as reasonably strong plants not so vulnerable to birds or slugs or wind. (I hope). I've got a nice row growing away well at the moment, and plan to do some more soon.

Someone asked me about getting them out of the gutters, which is difficult, as I block each end with duck tape to stop compost falling out. I gouge them out in blocks with a trowel that fits the gutter shape - sometimes the whole row comes out knitted together by roots, sometimes not, but peas are quite tough and seem to adapt soon to their new soil. Neighbours grow theirs in shallow boxes of one sort or another, and tip out great slabs of peas which, again, survive and grow well.

QuoteIs it worth chitting peas? Everything's so late this year here in West Yorkshire that I haven't started my peas off yet. I don't like sowing direct because the mice eat them. I am going to  sow them in root trainer pots. Is it worth chitting them first? Many thanks
Jo (Glassprimitif)

Well having grown peas in West Yorkshire for the last thirty odd years I don't chit them as such, but see no reason why you can't.

I find timing is more important that method for example if I sow them before May there is a very high probability I will lose them to mice, so I no longer grow early varieties.

Even if I sow them in containers under cover I get troubled with mice. I put this down to the fact that there is very little food around at this time of year for mice so early sowings are a banquet for them.

Wheres as if I wait to late June/Early July then again Late August/Early September to sow my maincrop varieties all is usually OK

Having said that: I got a packet of Douce Provence in a bargain pack of seeds which I am treating as an early crop so what I have been doing with these is starting them off in cell trays.



What I did was split the packet into three and sown a third at fortnightly intervals in the hope that I will get some continuity between batches.

I find I get about an 8ft row from one standard trayful.



I hope this helps!

BTW welcome to A4A

Yes that really helps. I don't feel so panicked that I haven't sown them yet. I shall hang on a bit. Many thanks

Hi Jo, I know you from Twitter! Welcome. :)

I like to make newspaper pots for my peas, but it's time-consuming - I do it while I'm watching TV or YouTube videos though so it isn't so bad.

Unfortunately I grow so many peas that I just don't have room for them inside, so I have to sow most of them outside. And slugs are my problem... :(