Pea question

[goodlife]

I posted this question in other tread..but suppose it got 'lost' ..so here we go..its own post.

Does peas need 'resting'/drying out/dormant period for them to germinate or can fresh but fully mature peas be used for sowing straight from 'wrinkly' pods? I've just hung up first lot of peas to dry out and I'm thinking to maximise my seed production and maybe do same lot again..but do I need to wait?

[goodlife]

[davyw1]

If you are talking about drying them out for use next season then you dont do it naturaly i think you do it in the oven over a couple of hours.
That about all i can tell you

[goodlife]

No, not to use next season..I'm thinking of sowing the new peas again as soon as possible..now..

[pigeonseed]

wow - that's ambitious! I don't know, goodlife. Is there any way you'd feel okay just trying it, to see? Or would you be too disappointed if it didn't work?

Are they a variety which can be sown in Autumn? In which case I would guess they could go again without winter dormancy, because they mustn't have very long between harvest and sowing normally. If they were a spring-sown one then I guess a spell in the fridge might mimic winter.. But I'm just guessing, I'm sure you have been through all the guesses yourself already!  :)

[saddad]

Try half a dozen on kitchen towel and see what happens...
I know that when "drying" to save if the pods get too damp that the peas germinate in the pods...  :-\

[goodlife]

That's sorted then..I shall do the germination test..I'll pick couple of pods ..maybe even leave the peas to 'harden' off/ dry on plate for couple of days or so and then do the kitchen towel thing ;D ;) Thank you!
I'll let you know the results..

[galina]

Yes indeed, they germinate straightaway.  I have crossed peas and grown the F1 generation in the same year.  Big drawback was that the second lot got very mildewed and the yield was really low.  It was enough for my purposes that was lucky.

Some years are better than others.  Best of luck for the second crop. 

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've had them germinate while still in the pod. Watch out for mildew as the days shorten.

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you are talking about drying them out for use next season then you dont do it naturaly i think you do it in the oven over a couple of hours.
That about all i can tell you

Don't heat them if you want them to germinate!

[goodlife]

Code Select Expand

Best of luck for the second crop.
Thanks.. ;D
I've got this crop of peas for HSL now drying so I though I might try to grow stock for myself now.. ;)
I'm going to grow them in a bucket again and in GH..so they do get watered and looked after better than those in ground..If we just get half decent autumn....fingers grossed.. ;D

[Ian Pearson]

I've heard of folk successfully getting a second crop by just dropping the whole dried pods, pods and all, into a drill at the foot of the parent crop, and letting them climb up through the dead foliage. I've never got good results with late sowing tho', it's too hot and dry in these parts.
Maybe the dead foliage in the above method would provide some shade to help matters in this respect.

[goodlife]

These peas that I'm growing are dwarf type..British Wonder..they still managed to strech nearly to 4ft.. ::) I think it must be because I started them so early in GH and the light levels were not ideal as yet then..and the buckets are really deep..double the debth of the builders bucket size. I've got several bucket fulls of different peas going on now and they do really well in them.,..
I like the idea of using old growth as climbing frame for the new ones..but for seed crops I like to play safe and do peas in my buckets..I don't need to net them neither..GH is safe zone from birds..

[goodlife]

Well, little update..BW peas are now germinated.. ;D We are in the middle of June now so there is good chance that they will be able to produce another batch of seed for me..
I did pick some of the driest pods/peas for the re-sowing..don't know if that made any difference for the germination or not but looks like every pea that I planted have germinated.
Now start the forever watering again.. ::)