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Post by mnjrutherford on Apr 19, 2009 11:23:03 GMT -5
Wonder why the flowers made it and the food didn't? Such a conundrum. At first I figured that it was because the first seed I put down were from last year. But the seed I planted a few days later was from Baker's Heirloom and purchased just this year. It wasn't until the 4th replanting that I had any success at all?!?!?
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Post by grungy on Apr 19, 2009 13:11:05 GMT -5
I don't know if you have the same problem as we do. We have small white worms in the soil that will eat the embryos of the peas, beans and corn if the soil temperature isn't just right to get them to germinate in roughly 3 or less days. (once they germinate and start putting out roots and the leaf stalk the plants are left alone). I start mine in soilless potting mix to work around the problem and it's working.
As for the sweet peas, I would guess that they either germinate quickly or the seed casing is to hard for the "worms" to penetrate, or possibly they are too small to attract the beasties in the first place.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Apr 20, 2009 12:24:04 GMT -5
I don't think we have little worms... At least I didn't notice any. I'll have to keep that in mind next year. Thanks Grungy!
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loki
gopher
Posts: 15 
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Post by loki on May 27, 2009 10:30:51 GMT -5
I'm not sure why people are having problems with peas. They are one of the easiest to grow of all plants. They are very hardy and should be planted as early as possible in the spring. I've even planted them in a January thaw here in Zone 5. They did not come up till March, but did just fine. They don't rot in the ground here - I usually find them the next year, and they were under wet snow all winter. They hate replanting, so don't bother with that. If you want them earlier, instead plant them as early as humanly possible, and put a row cover over them to warm things up a bit. You could use agrifabric, plastic or both! Take this off when it gets to be warmer. They can tolerate freezes - to about 25 degrees or so.
I know people here who shovel out their gardens to plant! Lots of snow can be a problem! You may need to plan the year before and put in a sturdy cold frame sort of contraption of some sort that can be de-snowed to get sunlight in to warm up the soil if you want really early peas. Another option would be to put bales of hay over the area, and remove them and the snow on top in March and plant, then cover with row covers. Put empty pots under so the snow won't crush or push the row covers down flat. The air space will warm a bit and help melt the snow.
Sweet peas are different (and a different species). They don't mind transplanting at all. And for me, they are much more difficult to germinate in the ground. They take longer and seem to do better with more heat (until the real summer heat hits).
Those in the south should plant peas for winter, or really early spring.
Don't confuse with cowpeas - which requre the exact opposite - very warm conditions.
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Post by mnjrutherford on May 27, 2009 12:41:49 GMT -5
Well loki, if you can shed some light on my issue I'd be grateful! I planted new seed between my producing plants today. I'm hoping to extend the season a tad. This is the first year I've produced more than a handful of pods and I've actually had enough for a decent side dish. Typically there is just enough for a snack in the garden. What happens to me is that a plant will start to die and if I follow the stem of said plant to the soil, the stem is a "cut", brown, stump. I'm telling ya, it miffs me no end!
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Post by robertb on May 31, 2009 17:10:37 GMT -5
I always start peas under cover nowadays. I used to get terrible results till I tried cloching a row, and they all came up. That told me the problem was birds; if it had been mice, they'd have got in anyway. Nowadays I grow nothing but old-fashioned tall peas, as the crop is so much better, and I use a row of wigwams, one for each variety. Pots of seedlings are the easiest way to go.
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