Growing peas

 

I have given up sowing peas outside,but instead sow them in trays in a
heated propagator area.I have varying success in getting high
germination rates,and have put this down to using poor compost.I tend
to mix multipurpose compost with some grit sand and John Innes.I fill
half of a large seed tray with compost,place about a hundred peas
reasonably spaced (1" apart)onto the compost and then dip the tray in
a water tray until the water turn the compost dark or wet.I then drain
off, fill the seed tray with more compost,and then place in the
propagator.The thermostat is set to about 30F,giving a soil
temperature at the bottom of the tray just over 20F.The peas seem to
start pushing the compost up after about 6 days,but this is where the
problem starts.With some composts the whole of the soil in the top of
the tray lifts up like a roof,and at this stage the soil is quite
dry.It sometimes does not shake down,but if I water the top to soften
it,which is itself quite difficult,the peas underneath the 'roof' tend
to rot.I seem to have least problems with the more expensive Bowers
and Levington multicompost,but some of the cheaper composts such as
Tunstall are dreadful.
Does anyone have any similar experience of this,and can help with a
solution?
Cheers,Michael
P.S.I have given up growing peas outside,as the mice always take 90%!

 


"michael"  wrote

We are fighting back this year after no peas or sweetcorn, got some
professional type rodent bait that is so powerful one meal and they are
dead.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

 

Bob Hobden wrote:

What is it ?
And where can it be purchased ?

Dorothy

 


"High Miles"  wrote ...

It's a paste that smells of peanut butter made in sachets made by Raco and I
got it from another allotment holder that uses it at work. Presumably it's
available on the net if you google.
Care, there is an indoor only one and one for both indoors and outdoors.
Treat it with the respect it deserves, it's a strong poison, read the
product information etc. and act accordingly.
Always use a proper mouse bait box and ensure they can't drag the sachets
outside the box, I bought the specific box to go with the poison that has a
metal bar that passes through the sachets to hold them in place.
It isn't cheap!
--
Regards
Bob Hobden
My video of the moment
http://yeli.us:80/Flash/Fire.html

 

Bob Hobden wrote:

Thank you so much.
For the info and the good advice.
But  -  they gotta GO.

Dorothy