[Lottiegob]

Planted 2 varieties of pea in the same bed, but kept in 2 sections, the first variety bought from Lidl called Kelvedon Wonder were through in about 10 days are now about 2" high. However the other variety Suttons Early Onward is very slow to germinate (only about 5%). Both were planted at the same time, same depth, same soil conditions. Can anybody suggest why one variety is so poor?   They were both bought in the last couple of months.

[gowing238]

Just a thought but maybe one is an early type and others a maincrop type?

[pairofacres]

I sowed Early Onwards too, and they're miserable, not helped by weevils attacking them. The main crop planted later is far outstripping their growth. I guess they're intended to be slightly hardy, but the conditions this spring have been too much for them.

[mumofstig]

they both should be early, does one perhaps get more sun than the other?

Otherwise, sorry I've no idea...it's just a waiting game this spring  :blink:

[goodegg]

you get wevils with any pea thats not the peas fault this is my early onward planted in the greenhouse in january

[DavidT]

Could be mice. Check for small holes in the soil.

[Lottiegob]

Thanks all, but both are in the same bed and get same sun, no signs of mice holes either

[Yabba]

Just to confuse you, I slapped a 13' row of kelvedon wonder in, and all but the last 2' germinated ages ago ... and it's the sunnier end of the bed.

Sometimes it just happens

¥

[Lottiegob]

DD - (pea god) if you're around - why do you think Early Onward aren't appearing?

[DD.]

Could simply be a bad batch of seed - it happens.

However, oddly enough on my current plot, exactly the same thing happened with exactly the same varieties of peas, the first year I was on there, although germanation was a bit more that 5%.

After that I just grew KW, until I had enough hertiage pea seed.

[Lottiegob]

Thanks DD.   I planted another variety where in between the remaining Early Onward called 'Ambassador' - hope these do better.

[green fingers]

Im having exactly the same problem. Sowed and had lots of nibbled peas (all covered in mesh, surrounded by slug pellets, its not mice , nor pigeons- think its weevil.  So have now sown direct (3 times) one row coming through ,but small.   

[DD.]

If the damage is nice neat semi-circular nibbles around the edge of the leaf - it's pea & bean weevil.

If you're not organic, a squirt with a proprietry insecticide will send them scurrying.

[izzy]

i start all my peas off in guttering in the greenhouse works everytime

[DD.]

That's fine, unless you're doing about 200' of peas!