[madcat]

I always chit runner beans before planting in their trench, but was blithely going to put my first ever lot of early peas (Meteor) in as they come out the packet.  Then I had a thought....   There is nothing in John's books about chitting them or soaking before planting but I wondered ... 

We are in a bit of a frost pocket so I have left them towards the end of the planting season to give them a good chance of getting away, but they really could do with going in this weekend.

[DD.]

To answer the question. No.

What do you mean you've left it towards the end of the planting season? Another couple of weeks before my main lot go in. I've only sown one pea so far.

[Aidy]

I am with DD here. I dig a very shallow trench, line it with compost sow on top then back fill to cover the peas by about 2 inch, water and wait.

[madcat]

Good.  That means I can get on!   

Meteor are supposed to be very hardy first earlies ....  which - given we still had snow on the allotment this time last year - I thought might cope when I placed the seed order in October.  Much warmer this year but still a clear fortnight behind cheshire which is 100 miles or so further north!

What have you sown?

[DD.]

Don't think Aidy's actually said he's sown anything.

I've sown one pea of "Kent Blue".

[JayG]

Last year my saved sugarsnap peas either didn't come up or got nobbled before I'd even seen them, so I did chit them (for a couple of days, just until I saw the very first signs of shooting.)

Pretty much 100% of them did, so I then just chucked them in as I would have done without chitting - good results but we're talking about a 10' foot row here, not planting football pitches like wot DD does! 

[Mrs Bee]

I don't soak them but I do pop them into  bag of moist compost seal it and put it in a warm place until the start to shoot then I plant them. Also do some like this and pop them into paper pots and keep them in the garage until they start to grow then plant them to try to get some early peas.

[LilacSandy]

Sorry DD, but why one solitary pea?

[mumofstig]

this explains all 

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=88061.msg978198#msg978198

[LilacSandy]

Thanks Mum, that explains it.  DD 1 pea?? thought I was seeing things 

[multitaskinmamma]

I don't soak them but I do pop them into  bag of moist compost seal it and put it in a warm place until the start to shoot then I plant them. Also do some like this and pop them into paper pots and keep them in the garage until they start to grow then plant them to try to get some early peas.

like this idea , gonna give it a try myself.. thanks for inspiration .

[DD.]

I just dig a big 32' ditch, (well about 8 of them planned this year), chuck them in and leave them to their own devices, apart from protecting them.

Can't be doing with all this faffing about, (apart from my tenderly nurtured solitary pea)! 

[Mrs Bee]

I just dig a big 32' ditch, (well about 8 of them planned this year), chuck them in and leave them to their own devices, apart from protecting them.

Can't be doing with all this faffing about, (apart from my tenderly nurtured solitary pea)! 

As we are quite new to the allotment lark I have been following Terry Walton in the Garden News.

A friend on the lotty says the same about the faffing, seems to break all the rules and has brilliant crops. BUt following Terry has helped us to get some success while we learn and get experience. Also helped us to get some early crops. Also follow his tips to get some early beetroot too.

[DD.]

So, if your friend has brilliant crops from his method that you can see for your own eyes, why don't you follow him?

[Trillium]

Like DD, I normally just sow mine into the prepared trench, but the last 3 years, something has been stealing the lot 

This year, I plan to soak all my peas for 24 hours, then dust them in some pea/bean innoculant, plant them and immediately cover with some tangled netting. I tried row covers but still lost them all so obviously the tangled netting is a real deterrent for the thief. I also won't have to plant 3 times before the crop comes up and I have to wait that much longer for peas.

I personally wouldn't bother to chit them as those fragile roots are easily snapped off when covered with soil.