Do I need to inoculate my seeds?

new2this 4/11/2010, 3:40 pm

I want to start my peas (directly into the garden they will go!), but do I need to inoculate them first? Is that really necessary?

We are supossed to have a glorious week here as far as the weather is concerned...I wanna start planting. Do I need to inoculate my seeds? Icon_smile

choksaw 4/11/2010, 6:39 pm

not really necessary but there are benifits to it or so im told i did not innoculate my seeds and so far my peas are growing great found out after they sprouted about innocluate only time will tell i guess

martha 4/11/2010, 8:41 pm

peas are one of the things I have grown off and on for years, and I never inoculated. Now, having heard about it every time I turned around in the past year, I couldn't feel right about not doing it. It is possible that it increases germination rates (something with which I have never had a problem) but it also increases the peas ability to return nitrogen to the soil. Legumes are one of the few things that gives rather than takes nitrogen.

boffer 4/11/2010, 8:53 pm

I assume inoculating peas does not involve sterile needles. Would somebody tell me what it is I haven't been doing for seven years?

**camprn** 4/11/2010, 9:22 pm

boffer wrote:I assume inoculating peas does not involve sterile needles. Would somebody tell me what it is I haven't been doing for seven years?

this article explains that inoculation pea seeds helps to affix nitrogen
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/peas1.html

lizzo 4/11/2010, 10:23 pm

camprn wrote:this article explains that inoculation pea seeds helps to affix nitrogen

Yes it does say that, and nothing more.
Do I need to do that in my SFG? If so, what is it, where do I buy it, and what do I do with it?

**camprn** 4/11/2010, 10:48 pm

lizzo wrote:
camprn wrote:this article explains that inoculation pea seeds helps to affix nitrogen

Yes it does say that, and nothing more.
Do I need to do that in my SFG? If so, what is it, where do I buy it, and what do I do with it?

I did not inoculate my pea seeds this year and nearly all of them came up. We'll see how my yields are later in the season. Sometimes seeds are sold with the innoculant already on it or you can buy it in the garden store in powder form. It is not a required treatment. Please speak to the folks at your local nursery for the best advice for your area. And follow all label instructions.
Another link found via Google. http://www.morris.umn.edu/pyg/tips/vegetables/tip_815.shtml
or this one:
http://www.yougrowgirl.com/grow/peas.php

SFG in Chicago 4/16/2010, 12:32 pm

Alright I am pretty new at thing gardening thing, this will be my first time with peas & beans. I found Burpee bean inoculant in a packet in the rack with all the other Burpee seeds, it's called Burpee Booster. I've seen it in at least 3 different stores, if your local big box carries Burpee seeds they will probably have it. It has several different types of bacteria for various types of beans/peas. From what I've read if you've planted beans or peas before you will already have the bacteria in the soil, but with a brand new SFG with all new "soil" I figured it couldn't hurt.

jerzyjen 4/16/2010, 5:22 pm

I almost bought that burpee stuff the other day at lowes as an impulse buy, but then I remembered that I have no need to increase my peas harvest, I had so many in two squares last year they were coming out of my ears and I did nothing to them (well other than plant and add water).

martha 4/16/2010, 10:13 pm

The whole nitrogen-fixing thing gets really confusing, at least to me.

But apparently, inoculating one's peas and queue's - oh, no, sorry, Do I need to inoculate my seeds? 926169

I mean, peas and beans, it allows/helps/improves the ability for the nitrogen from the legumes to be added to the soil.

The one part I do understand is that most crops take nitrogen, and a few give it back - such as peas, beans, I think alfalfa.

At the same time, inoculating is supposed to increase the germination rate, but that is not its primary purpose.

Do I need to inoculate my seeds? Icon_arrow

(happy pea)

boffer 4/16/2010, 10:19 pm

martha wrote:
But apparently, inoculating one's peas and queue's - oh, no, sorry,

Sigh.....it must really be slow for you at work tonight! way to go

martha 4/16/2010, 10:21 pm

didja miss me??? Do I need to inoculate my seeds? Icon_twisted

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