Pre-soaked peas no earlier than others.

We did an experiment in our local community garden. Should one pre-soak the peas or not? Will it make a difference?

NO! The pre-soaked overnight sugar snap peas in our community garden germinated only hours sooner than those that weren't pre-soaked. We tested with two 30-foot long rows.

I soak my pea seeds, for me it is not to get earlier growth or crop but the reason is because I will only plant the seed that have sprouted as peas commonly have lower germination rates.

quiltbee,

I figure the only thing pre-soaking and/or pre-sprouting peas would be if you knew they would not get watered in the field to get them to sprout. Or you would be checking the viability of the seeds. I did this last yr. because I had lots of old pea seeds, but, peas keep a long time and all sprouted.

Jo

I started my snap peas by sowing them and they are up now. hip-hip hooray!


However, I did want to try the soaking method that you have posted on your blog, but just didn't this time around. I still think I will try it later in the season though. Thanks for sharing your results.

BackRiver_SFG wrote:I started my snap peas by sowing them and they are up now. hip-hip hooray!


However, I did want to try the soaking method that you have posted on your blog, but just didn't this time around. I still think I will try it later in the season though. Thanks for sharing your results.

+1 Thanks QB for sharing!

Nice to know ! im still waiting for my peas sown 23 days ago to appear

Wow kbb, sound like you need to reseed! Try covering with clear plastic until you see they've spouted. That way you keep the soil moist and warm and you also keep critters from eating the seeds!

kbb964 wrote:Nice to know ! im still waiting for my peas sown 23 days ago to appear

I'd replant peas. I suspect yours have rotted by now (you can always sacrifice a couple and dig em up to double check).

quiltbea wrote:We did an experiment in our local community garden. Should one pre-soak the peas or not? Will it make a difference?

NO! The pre-soaked overnight sugar snap peas in our community garden germinated only hours sooner than those that weren't pre-soaked. We tested with two 30-foot long rows.

QB , presoaking is normally suggested in dryish soils . I didnt do it in my well moist MM beds but had to before I moved over to the full MM

There are also many types of dried pea ,the really wrinkled ones are indeed best soaked for 24 hrs , rinsed off & then sown , as it can take weeks for them to germinate if it is a bit dry .

In ordinary friable earth soil the peas would still be quite hard after three or four days and mice would often have a real feast eating most of the peas in a row/ trench .

It was also common in earth soil gardens to dip the soaked peas in parraffin/ light kerosene for an hour or so to deter mice & slugs .

I have often planted three seeds in 4 inch pots , waited for them to show then planted them out as the totaql content of each pot after them hardening off whenthey reached two inches high . You usually have to net them to stop pigeons / sparrows etc eating the young plants as they are full of sugar and very tasty.

Another idea I have seen used is to use a three foot length of 3 inch gutter channel that has been filled with a light peat based mix ( MM would be ideal ) tape up the ends before filing and sow soaked peas in it . cover with an inch of peat etc. Keep it indoors on a window cill & gently watered .

Once the peas are two inches high harden then off for two days then scrape a trench in the garden bed , remove one of the tapes and slide the growing peas out the guttering into the trench , water in well .

There is little or no root distubrance and you can get a couple of week head start on normal direct sown peas .