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Vegetable Gardening

Snap Pea Germination - When to start over?

12 years ago

Hi all! Quick spring gardening question for the seasoned pea vets. I'm in southern Arkansas and planted sugar snap seeds two weeks ago and I'm seeing nothing. This is my first pea attempt. At what point do I call it a dud and try again, perhaps soaking the seeds prior to planting? Is it possible that it's already too warm in my area for peas or should I just leave it alone and let patience prevail?

Thanks,

Jessica

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Comments (10)

zzackey
12 years ago
I think they should be up by now. How warm is it there? I have sugar peas growing and they don't mind the abnormal 80 degree days. I had snap peas in May last year still producing. I guess it depends on how deep you planted them, how fresh the seeds were and if you kept the soil moist enough for them to germinate. Not familiar with your climate. If you can get them harvested before the heat starts I would try again.
Edymnion
12 years ago
How did you start them, indoors or direct sow?

If it was direct sow, I'd say start over indoors with some coir where you can control the temperature and moisture levels. Soon as they sprout, immediately put them out.

I direct sowed corn weeks ago and it hasn't done a thing. I restarted last week indoors.
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I planted sugar snaps & early dark seeded perfection peas directly outside on March 7th. One sugar snap sprouted early, in about 8 days - but most of them took more like 2.5 weeks. I thought they were all doing pretty well, since they all sprouted eventually, look healthy and are now about 3-4 inches tall. So I just looked at a picture of the same dark-seeded early perfection peas I planted last fall (this is only the second time I've grown peas). At 33 days old, last year they were WAY bigger than the ones I have now. You can see pictures of them in the blog post linked below. The ones I have now are on the same trellis, but haven't even reached the bottom rung yet, whereas the ones in the pic from last year are above the second rung and already have a flower! I have the sugar snaps on a bigger 6 foot tall trellis, but they haven't reached the bottom rung yet either. I think they must just grow really slowly in the cold weather we've been having. I planted them early because it gets so hot and humid here pretty quickly in June, and everything I read says that will kill peas. And if it takes 60 days for them to mature, that doesn't seem to leave enough time if I didn't plant them until April. So I'm kinda bummed. I was really looking forward to tasty peas! I really hope they grow faster once the weather warms up. Next year I am going to try a little wire hoop house type row cover with Agribon fabric over them. I already ordered some this February, but it is still on backorder. :-( Here is a link that might be useful: last falls' happy peas
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Nilaa, what you might be able to grow now will depend on what facilities you have indoors. I have a small (6'x'8') greenhouse and through the winter grow cherry tomatoes, herbs, salad greens and lemons, in addition to ornamentals. Last year I started peas in a container in the greenhouse and was picking them well before they'd have produced outside. When weather warmed up enough, I simply moved the container outside and continued harvesting until the heat took its toll on the plants and they gave up. You don't necessarily need a greenhouse, you might have a space with good sunlight, or want to set up grow lights (some people grow plants under lights in their basements). You might also want to check out the Wintersowing forum - there are lots of vegetable and ornamental seeds you can set outside now. I'll warn you, though ... it's too easy! I tried it last winter and wound up with more little seedlings than I knew what to do with, lol. Best of luck to you! Diane
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wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
12 years ago
Dig down and check 2 or 3 out.
bi11me
12 years ago
Wayne's right. The seed should be easy to find. If you don't see any growth, either start with new seed or try again in the fall.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years ago
I'd think that it would be too late in your climate to bother with sweet peas.
stuffradio
12 years ago
Last year, I planted in March. In mid to late April they started germinating. The ground wasn't entirely dry. You don't have to give up.
georgeneschreiner
12 years ago
I have good luck planting early when I soaked the peas first for a day. When the peas are swollen and no longer wrinkled I plant them in the garden. It seems to give them a head start.

Also, watch your weather and try to plant during a warm stretch. They can take cold once they are growing, but germinate better when it is a little warmer.
ralleia
12 years ago
I pre-moisten my pea seeds for a day or so, too. I don't soak them per se, but I mist them with water and cover the bowl with plastic wrap, then mist them a little more later, etc. so that they soak at a slow rate and don't split.

I give bean seeds the same treatment.

In early spring I plant the pea seeds *very* shallowly. Deeper the hotter it gets.
jessicabauer84
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for all the great feedback everyone! I ventured out this morning and dug where I'm pretty sure I planted my seeds and didn't find anything, really. There was one seed that showed no change and easily crumbled in my hand. It may be too warm, with the days staying steady in the mid 70s and the nights in the 50s, but I think I'll try again and give the seeds a little water overnight before planting them out in the morning.

We'll see what comes up, if anything.
bi11me
12 years ago
If you found exactly NOTHING, they were probably eaten. Birds or rodents are dining at your expense. Everybody loves fresh peas.

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