[tode]

Most of the veg patch has done very well this year, but still cant get decent peas 
Plenty of beans, but the peas just dont seem to work. Only about 1/2 of em come up, and then theyre short spindly things that only give a few pods per plant before going yellow and hard. Tried watering more often, but doesnt seem to make much difference 
WHATS THE SECRET ?
Desperate

[Beetroot queen]

I ended up with lovely peas but I couldnt tell you what i did, because I did nothing, started in trays, planted on lotty once big enough, and left them too it 

No secret in that, although a fellow lady plot holder said she cant grow them either  :blink:

[DD.]

Have a look at this thread, (I'm afraid I hi-jacked it a bit!).

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=22467.0

[maxie]

I always used to have bother with peas sown directly in the ground due to haphazard germination and then flea beetle when they did come up.
So i was advised by the lad on the next plot to start them off in the greenhouse and ive never looked back,i sow them in guttering,its nearly 100% germination and they transplant well.
I reckon it would work ok outside as long as you keep them away from the flea beetle as these seriously weakened the young plants.
And also if its dry give them a good soaking,dont just water with the sprayer on the watering can,take it off and give the row maybe five or six cans full,till it gets right down to the roots,this way you dont need to do it every day,you can usually see a dry plant respond to the water the next day.
Hope this helps.

[DD.]

Never had problem with flea beetle.

Do you mean pea & bean weevil, where you get semi-circular holes around the edges?

Starting in guttering is fine, unless you want to grow in real quantity, then you have no option other than direct sowing.

[tode]

Hi DD
Youve made me feel even worse now  
Your pics of August last year just make me want to stick my head in the compost heap  
My problem isnt how to support them (I wish it was !) The problems that theres nothing to support  
Will take a pic this afternoon, but they really are pitiful.
And the BIG problem is that we both love fresh peas.

Ours are in full sun: yours look as if they get a bit of shade? Is that it?

Going to find a bottle  

[DD.]

Ours are in full sun, but the english sun!

You could try growing under debris netting if you want some shade, my cauliflowers loved it.

[PAULW]

Starting in guttering is fine, unless you want to grow in real quantity, then you have no option other than direct sowing.

I use a 30 ft piece of guttering works for me.

[DD.]

I grow abput 200'. That's what I mean about "quantity"!

[tode]

Promise not to laugh 

Well here are my miserable peas. Theyre Kelvedon wonder.
Soil is stoney (limestone), but french and runner beans romping away.

What can I do??

[kermit]

I had a great pea harvest this year in my wee patch.  Raised beds, plenty of manure, and lots of Scottish rain.  Then the sunny late Spring really made them take off.

Started half in toilet roll tubes indoors, and waited before chitting the other half and planting once the first lot had taken off to try and extend the harvest.  Both did well (you obviously guarantee germination this way and avoid vermin eating them).  Next year I'll just be chitting the lot as they only took a few weeks of sun to catch up on the ones planted indoors around 1 month earlier, and only extended the harvest by around a week.

Planted all close together in a kind of double row, supported with hazel and gardening string.

As previously mentioned on this thread, perhaps sowing indoors not ideal for mass-planting, although I still reckon it'd be worth chitting even if you're doing 200!  I just dumped a load on some damp kitchen roll in a sealed bag, in the warm, for about 24-48 hours.  Almost 100% germination.

[DD.]

I still reckon it'd be worth chitting even if you're doing 200! 

That's 200 feet - not 200 plants!

[DD.]

Promise not to laugh 

Well here are my miserable peas. Theyre Kelvedon wonder.
Soil is stoney (limestone), but french and runner beans romping away.

What can I do??

I'd seriously consider, (as I'd get pea withdrawl symptons), growing something like "Alderman" in large pots or tubs, up canes in decent compost.

[tode]

The pea patch (if you can call it that  ) was prepares this year: it had been under grass for last 30 years.
I didnt add any manure: thought that peas didnt need it.
How do you prepare for yours?

[DD.]

I don't. Don't consider they need any extra.

Just a draw how to make a trench, throw the peas in, (literally), cover & net.