[tode]

Tried growing peas this year.   
A total, unmitigated, miserable failure.  ( I won't put the pic up again ! )

Two weeks ago, pulled up the bits of yellow string that passed as pea plants, gave it a good rotavating, and put  six inches of mowings over it all.

Today I find . . .  pea plants coming up everywhere   

What's going on ? ?

[gillie]

Perhaps the peas did not germinate the first time around... and have decided to do so now.

I don't know why this should happen, maybe they were too dry.  Did you soak the peas before you sowed them?

Cheers,

Gillie

[tode]

No, I read somewhere that they go mouldy if you soak em   ?

[Salmo]

There were perhaps a few peas that did not get picked that dropped to the ground and have spouted. Or maybe just the pixies playing their tricks?

[tode]

"Or maybe just the pixies playing their tricks?"

D'you think so ?

Thought I'd turned em all in with the rotavator   

[gillie]

I always soak peas and broad beans before sowing but NOT french beans, which do indeed rot (as I found out the hard way).

My wild guess is that the peas have only just imbibed enough water for them to germinate.

Cheers,

Gillie

[tode]

Could be. Planted them in a new patch, which is very stony, and it's been really dry here this year.  Watering doesn't seem to have the same effect as rain.

How long do you soak em ? Overnight ?

[Potiron]

 I have so much trouble with the Mulot, little mousy critters, that I soak , chit then plant  the peas in paper pots. Plant them out when they are about 2ins.high, this way the Mulot dont seem to bother.
 Do the same with all beans as well, that way they dont go into the mouses larder.

[Salmo]

Mulot are what we call woodmice/long tailed fieldmice.

[tode]

D'you grow dwarf or climbing peas, Potiron ?

[gillie]

I soak peas overnight.  It is surprising how much water they soak up. 

Then I either sow them, or strain them off and leave them on kitchen paper in a plastic box until I get round to it.  I don't grow very many, so I usually sow them in modules and don't plant them out until the plant seem to be independent of the original seed. 

We also have a problem with 'mulots' or something similar.

Cheers,

Gillie

[kermit]

I had great success chitting all my peas and beans - just popped them in damp kitchen roll, in a poly-bag and 24-48 hours in the airing cupboard.  Then just threw all the ones that had sprouted in the ground.  Terry Walton Radio 2 to thank for that (is that his name??!...)

Going to do this with more seeds next year.

[Goosegirl]

I sow mine in a length of guttering then slide them out when ready, but I like the idea of soaking them first as they do seem to take their time germinating.

[Trillium]

Tode, it could simply be the cooler weather now which peas prefer for growing.

[tode]

I suppose so, plus the rain. They seem very happy coming through the lawn mowings, though.

Next year I'm gonna have peas by the BUCKETFUL.