Whats up with my peas?

From what I've read. . the yellowing and dying of leaves at the bottom is either due to root rot or lack of nitrogen. However I thought peas were actually nitrogen "fixers" . . These were transplanted from indoor so I thought maybe they did not harden off but I planted a new row right next to them from seed and the largest one now has the same problem. I have not really been using the soaker hose shown as I thought the problem maybe be root rot so I've been spray watering.

My only other thought was that this is a converted sandbox, I laid down landscape fabric, then Mel's Mix. Maybe it's not draining? I would think fabric on top of sand with Mel's Mix should drain just fine. If I pull one up can I tell if it has root rot?

I would be interested in others comments, but I have always found that peas tend to turn brown at the base, but then can be completely fine plants.

In fact just yesterday I pulled one out because it looked dead, but then turns out that the bottom was totally dead but the rest of it was incredibly healthy with lots of peas

Oh good golly that is sad! Hope you get an answer. Mine do that when it starts getting hot (a week or two in the upper 70's) but it is too early in the year for hot (at least in the PNW).

Here is a good reference I found. Pea Growing Problems: Troubleshooting

When did you plant and how hot is it around you? Because to me that looks like hot weather effect on peas.

I wonder if any one in your area has good results with sowing peas in July for Fall harvest?

I'm in Chicago. I trans-planted the peas around May 1st. I know it's been a warm Spring but I did not think typical temps would heat damage like this.

patrad wrote:I'm in Chicago. I trans-planted the peas ...(snip....

It CAN be done but peas do not always do well when transplanted (direct seeding is less stressful). Yours look like they did grow well for a while but the leaves seem too small.

I have not tried the advice I a giving (get out a grain of salt to take the advice with).

You can cut your peas down. When the weather is right they should come back for late season pods. Refresh the soil with compost after you cut them (like a mulch). The reason I have not done this on purpose (it worked accidently when I cut out old vines instead of pulling them out) is because I need the space for brussels sprouts or sprouting broccoli.

Peas typically don't transplant well (as someone replied above). Peas typically don't like hot weather...100 degrees in KC yesterday and I removed my pea plants....they were done. Kansas Extension service does not even recommend fall peas...spring is our only shot.

So then I probably put them out too late?

Peas come back if cut back??? I did not know this. I, too, needed the space so pulled them out when they were thru. But I sure will keep this in mind for next year.

Does anyone else keep their peas in ground with success?

Thanks!

CC

GWN wrote:I would be interested in others comments, but I have always found that peas tend to turn brown at the base, but then can be completely fine plants.

In fact just yesterday I pulled one out because it looked dead, but then turns out that the bottom was totally dead but the rest of it was incredibly healthy with lots of peas

Ours are kind of like yours. They are a lighter color green about 1/3 of the way up then thick, hardy stalks with peas everywhere.
Renee

patrad wrote:So then I probably put them out too late?

Too late is relative...I think it it all depends on the weather (soil temps, daytime highs, nightime lows, etc.)

I actually soaked my peas for a day or two before planting in the soil...I had great germination but poor growth. I gave them a couple of months to do something before I ripped them out to make room for tomatoes. Out of 32 plants I only picked 4-5 pea pods.

People near you can advice on this better... But even here with a colder climate May is getting late for peas, though transplants should of given you some edge on that. I planted my first row on April 7th and they are starting to bloom now. Second planting was may 1rst and they will be blooming in a bit. But that was as late as I dare for here with peas. They hate hot.

Hmmm,,,, I have often left pea plants looking horrible almost dead on the trellis and had them revive in the fall to do a last flush of growth and blooms. Maybe this year I will cut them down and see if they do that in a tidier fashion.

Hmmm,,,, I have often left pea plants looking horrible almost dead on the trellis and had them revive in the fall to do a last flush of growth and blooms. Maybe this year I will cut them down and see if they do that in a tidier fashion.

My peas always come up looking ill and then just take off.....
I gave them some seaweed fertilizer and laid some compost around the bases and they are doing great now

GWN wrote:

Hmmm,,,, I have often left pea plants looking horrible almost dead on the trellis and had them revive in the fall to do a last flush of growth and blooms. Maybe this year I will cut them down and see if they do that in a tidier fashion.

My peas always come up looking ill and then just take off.....
I gave them some seaweed fertilizer and laid some compost around the bases and they are doing great now

SOrry I was being confusing again.
My plants do great (barring attack of the chickens or sheep etc ) until some point in late July/early August. At that point I tell myself to pull them out because they are done for the year. But I am too lazy and they then reward me in September/October. This year I will try cutting them down and giving them some compost and see if that does better than ignoring them.

Turan wrote:

GWN wrote:

Hmmm,,,, I have often left pea plants looking horrible almost dead on the trellis and had them revive in the fall to do a last flush of growth and blooms. Maybe this year I will cut them down and see if they do that in a tidier fashion.

My peas always come up looking ill and then just take off.....
I gave them some seaweed fertilizer and laid some compost around the bases and they are doing great now

SOrry I was being confusing again.
My plants do great (barring attack of the chickens or sheep etc ) until some point in late July/early August. At that point I tell myself to pull them out because they are done for the year. But I am too lazy and they then reward me in September/October. This year I will try cutting them down and giving them some compost and see if that does better than ignoring them.

I live in southern Minnesota and by July 4th my peas are usually begging to be pulled out (dead from the ground up--brown and dry vines) What many of the gardening books recommend is to pull up the vines at that point then re-plant a "fall crop" of peas in late July to early August?? Although I have not tried a fall crop before, I intend to do one this year. I am hoping it will go well?

patrad wrote:From what I've read. . the yellowing and dying of leaves at the bottom is either due to root rot or lack of nitrogen. However I thought peas were actually nitrogen "fixers" . . These were transplanted from indoor so I thought maybe they did not harden off but I planted a new row right next to them from seed and the largest one now has the same problem. I have not really been using the soaker hose shown as I thought the problem maybe be root rot so I've been spray watering.

My only other thought was that this is a converted sandbox, I laid down landscape fabric, then Mel's Mix. Maybe it's not draining? I would think fabric on top of sand with Mel's Mix should drain just fine. If I pull one up can I tell if it has root rot?

To me it looks like the peas have suffered a temperature and drought shock at transplanting time .

I grew/ grow my peas in MM in 4 inch pots .. two peas per pot after soaking the seed for 24 hrs changing the weater and soaking a further 24 hrs then putting them in a pot of MM that has been standing in water for 2 hrs or more.
Once the peas were through and an inch tall they got taken to the glashouse to acclimatise till two inches tall, then taken out still in the pots for another three days ( fleeece covered the first tow nights ) .
On planting day the pots are soaked in water for two hours or so and the wet MM with the peas is gently slid out the plant pot into a premade well watered hole using an old desert spoon as a scoop take care not to damage the roots.
from then onn it was a watering of a cup full per day per pea plant till i got the auto watering system upmand going . They have taken off like rockets , giving me the most peas I've ever had from 12 peas sown & they are still producing for me .
Yes my climate is different to yours but the system of sowing and planting out etc should work for you as well .