[Snoop]

A few years back I bought some Calibra petit pois seeds but have only now been able to sow them. Currently in 5x5 cm modules, sown two per module in case they didn't germinate after all this time. Packet instructions are to sow 5 cm apart. I have a total of 13 linear metres to sow, which I was going to do successionally in three stages.

To my amazement (my seed storage conditions are far from perfect), they've all germinated and I'm now left with the option of killing off one per module (poor things, they look so young and tender) or planting the lot out and hoping for the best.

Can I space the modules further than 5 cm apart when I come to plant them out and so keep the lot? Or is this counter-productive, as each plant will struggle and I'll end up with a smaller harvest than if I'd just kept one?

Thanks for any advice.

[mumofstig]

The way I sow, by the handful, means they never land equi distant in the trench, so I don't think they mind as long as, averaged out over the row, they're at about the right spacing 

[Snoop]

The way I sow, by the handful, means they never land equi distant in the trench, so I don't think they mind as long as, averaged out over the row, they're at about the right spacing 

Fantastic. So if I space the modules 10 cm apart, that would work.

As an aside, for some reason, I find it very difficult to get legumes to germinate in the ground (we have alkaline soil and vetch covered the land for years before I started trying to clear it, so that might explain it), consequently I have to use modules. If I can space them like you suggest, it means I can get more metres of peas in at once.

Thanks.

[mumofstig]

DD uses the handful approach as well 
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=45994.msg539462#msg539462

I don't know why they don't germinate  could there be birds or mice stealling the seed?

[Salmo]

Keep all the plants and space the modules at 10cm. The roots will soon fill the soil between.

[Dave Mack]

Yep Salmo is spot on , i grow lots ... i means mega loads of peas every year ,
I space mine very close back to back so the climb and grow on each other ,
the main thing is to keep feeding them as soon as the start flower 

[DD.]

Peas do not need extra feed. Too much nitrogen can produce leaf, not flower.

The key is plenty of organic matter to retain moisture and water regularly.

• Don't over-feed - Don't feed peas with nitrogen rich fertilisers as can cause lots of leafy growth instead of producing pea pods. In most cases peas won't require any extra feed, especially if you added plenty of organic matter to the soil before sowing.

[sunshineband]

I sow five seeds per 3ins module, planting out the clumps about 12com apart, and they do just fine

I can't direct sow due to the enormous vole population on out plot, so this works for me, even though it is a bit of a faff in comparison to direct sowing.

After the initial blood fish & bone, and a good dose of home made compost, I never feed them either.

They just get on with it

Oh yes, I cover up the newly planted seedlings with twiggy sticks to keep the pigeons off, until the plants are about a foot &  ahalf  high---then they seem to lose interest

[Snoop]

Thanks for the advice everyone.  Will sow more per module next year and try the 12 cm approach. The more peas the merrier!

[gavinjconway]

DD's pea advice is 12 per foot so you need many modules.. seems a bit like hard work tho..