[mebanana]

Total newbie question here!

Do you soak peas and beans before planting?  If so, how long for?  And can I just do it in a glass of water?

[rock_chick]

Personally I don't, as I've never had an issue getting them to grow. Not sure if any one else does?! 

[mumofstig]

I don't either.........if it's dry I just water the seed drill before I sow

[mebanana]

Thanks!  I was going to plant my peas outside but we have a lot of pigeons and there's this stoopid snow forecast.

I know about the guttering method but I don't have any guttering - are peat pots ok instead?

[BADBACK]

EY UP
some people soak peas n beans in
parrafin before planting this keeps
the birds and mice away

[azubah]

I tried soaking runner beans once and they all went rotten and the smell was horrible.
Sometimes I soak peas for a day or so until they swell and then plant them.

[galen]

I chitted peas last year, between damp kitchen towel in a sealed container, after a dismal showing of directly planted. When planted out got 100% success rate (I think... I suppose some of them could have been the originals coming though and I didn't actually count everyone. Anyway, all gaps filled and a good crop!)

[grinling]

I soak mine overnight in a jam jar.
I then plant peas in half toilet tubes and beans in pots. 
When I do plant I put a little fence around to protect from birds.

[dementedhornet]

EY UP
some people soak peas n beans in
parrafin before planting this keeps
the birds and mice away

 I was going to ask if anyone soaks their beans or peas in parrafin, as i had heard of this as well. Does anyone do this? we are plagued with mice on our allotment.  Can't think of anyway of getting rid of them,  the mice i mean.

[mebanana]

Thanks all for the advice!

Are peat pots ok to plant in?  I hear mixed reports!

[Paul Plots]

Thanks all for the advice!

Are peat pots ok to plant in?  I hear mixed reports!

Peat pots would be fine I guess but more expensive (and not so much fun) as making your own paper pots Richie style 

[mebanana]

That does sound more fun but I inherited a bunch of them with the greenhouse so they're free!

It was just after googling some people seem to think they dry plants out too quick - what do you think?

[Paul Plots]

Try standing the peat pots on a damp cloth in a tray without holes... that way the water lost through evaporation will be replaced while the seeds germinate.

Once in the ground just keep them watered in the normal way should be ok 

[compostqueen]

I found the peat pots dried out fast, loo rolls are much better and cheaper. The Jiffy 7 peat pellets don't dry out too quick and I really rate them

I've tried sprouting my peas in jam jar this year, and then I planted them in modules and bog rolls. Belt and braces approach  

I don't sow direct as the mice get them all.  I grow them on til they're a good size and then plant them out

[Paul Plots]

I found the peat pots dried out fast, loo rolls are much better and cheaper. The Jiffy 7 peat pellets don't dry out too quick and I really rate them

I've tried sprouting my peas in jam jar this year, and then I planted them in modules and bog rolls. Belt and braces approach  

I don't sow direct as the mice get them all.  I grow them on til they're a good size and then plant them out

I used paper pots last year - soaked the seed until it began to sprout and planted up dozens of little pots. Took a while but 100% success - as I wasn't aiming for really log rows of peas it worked for me