[oldcow]

I have started some Delikett peas indoors in toilet rolls, and only half of them have germinated. After waiting a good few days after the last one germinated, I emptied the other rolls one by one and none of them had any sign of germination. Is this the expected rate for this type of peas? Also, I filled the rolls with the same soil the peas will grow in (I'm growing in raised beds, in a mix of vermiculite, various composts and peat); should I have used some seed compost instead?

[Salmo]

If they have shown no sign of germination and are still firm then they may be too dry.

If they are soft and mushy they have been too wet and have rotted.

[UrbanG]

I planted my 'early onward' peas directly outside in containers on the 19 March.
Just a box standard mix of top soil and B&Q multi purpose compost.
100% germination and they are now (4 weeks on) looking healthy and are about 2" tall.

Not sure if this helps? just my experiance in my 1st year of pea growing

[bigben]

After watching Alys and her "grow your own veg" program, I was inspired to grow normal dried peas for pea tops to put in salads and have been impressed with their germination. I half expected them to have been treated somehow and not germinate. I just used normal B &Q compost.

DD is the guy to ask about peas - anyone heard from him recently or is he still on holiday?

[bluelou]

I sowed 12 pots and only 4 came up, I have had the seeds for about 3 years. Do pea seed not keep well?

[Trillium]

DD is still on sabbatical.

Pea seeds can keep for quite a few years but they'll be very dry so an overnight or up to 2 day soaking in water would help before planting. Newer seeds can simply be slow. When I direct seed mine outside, I water them almost every day and they're all up in about 2 weeks. If you're using a mix primarily of vermiculite, peat and such, then you'll need to water more regularly.

[bluelou]

Thanks. I will get soaking tonight as want to sow some more. Would you do this with all different types of old pea seeds. i.e Mange tout.

[Aunt Sally]

I always soak by peas and beans befor sowing until they look as good a new 

[oldcow]

My seed were new, just bought them this year. I'm sure they didn't dry up; maybe they rotted, but then I would expected all of them to do so, since they got bottom watered in the same tray as the ones that came up fine.
I'm going to start a new batch and see how it goes, soaking them first as suggested... Thank you all for your advice.

[bluelou]

What did you think of Alys dried peas idea? They looked like they did very well. Do you think it worked because she water in well?

Would they grow to full pea plants?

[CliveD]

What did you think of Alys dried peas idea? They looked like they did very well. Do you think it worked because she water in well?

Would they grow to full pea plants?

We tried that, and I'm gobsmacked that they're doing rather well, about 50mm at the moment. Hoping they'll grow to full height so we can try 'em...

Clive.

[mumofstig]

the peas which are sold dried are likely to be marrowfat peas, the sort for making mushy peas, rather than the 'sweet' green varieties we normally grow to eat.

[fletch]

Maybe not soaking them is where I went wrong. I sowed 2 rows direct on 6th April and there's nothing. Nada  . I'll try again but soak them this time.

[Aunt Sally]

Make sure you don't have mice taking them 

[fletch]

Make sure you don't have mice taking them 

How would I know? The soil doesn't look disturbed or anything, do I have to have a poke around?