Kitchen Garden Forum

Sown peas(kelvedon wonder) 3 weeks ago in gutters. Gutters have no drainage holes in bottom. I used home made compost that has always been OK in the past. The peas have failed miserably exept for one or two in each gutter. 0n rooting down in the gutters I found that most of the peas have turned into a mush. I suspect that I have over watered them
and that has caused them to rot,but I am not sure.
I would like some advice as to what is wrong as I have bought more seed and do not wish to waste it again.
Advice much appreciated
Regards brenjon

Hi Brenjon,

I used to sow in gutters, then I went on to seed trays and now rootrainers. Both the latter mean planting out each plant individually - involves more work, but the end result is much better. Each individual plant, especially in the rootrainer, has a much better root system, can be properly spaced out. If you haven't any rootrainers then sown in a seed tray - 32 or 40 peas will fit nicely.

I posted the results of my peas and guttering experiment in the best practices channel

(hope this works)
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=6858

Mine grew exceptionally well (about 65 from 70) so maybe it is down to overwatering. Getting them from the guttering to in the ground took a matter of minutes so maybe you should try again. I did use Innes No 1 but not sure if that made a difference. Maybe you should try a bit of guttering with that and another with your homemade compost to put it to the test.

Brenjon wrote:I suspect that I have over watered them

I suspect you may be right. Can you make some small drainage holes in the gutter ? If not, try the seed tray/root trainer approach and try not to overwater.

FA

Thanks for the advice from all of you
I will drill small holes in the guttering and use a branded compost and small trial of my own compost and less water
Regards Brenjon

Wouldn't it be quicker to just sow them in the garden, they are far less likely to go rotten? Fleece would keep pests off until they germinate.

DO NOT DRILL HOLES IN YOUR GUTTERS! BY DOING SO YOU WILL DEFEAT THE OBJECT. It will take but one root to grow through one of the holes and you will have a hell of a job planting them out. Really Peas need to be soaked for about 8 hours before planting and the compost should be on the moist side and you should not need to water before they have germinated. Over watering kills more plants than under watering. Once the onset of germination the pea itself will take over. The cotyledon, the two split halves, holds all the nutrient for the growing embryo and roots will appear irrespective of your watering.
When the growing embryo puts its head above ground then and only then should you even consider watering very sparsely.
Plumpudding,
If I were to plant peas direct here I would lose the lot to the mice even though I have in the past used wire guards.
Colin,
To plant an individual pea in a root trainer to me is a total waste of compost. Due to arthritis I can no longer use the gutter method but instead grow three peas to a 7cm square pot and my yields I would put above average. I grow a minimum of 90ft of peas anything up to 180ft.
Just consider how much compost that would take. To my way of thinking your root trainers would be better employed because peas do not need the depth you are affording them.
JB.

It's some years since I've grown peas, but I confess to have caused an awful lot of climbing bean seeds to rot through my enthusiastic over-watering and I don't think beans behaver very differently from peas in their early germinating stages. I suspect it's better to soak peas and beans for 8 hours before sowing and then plant in barely damp compost rather soaking wet.

I have not drilled the holes yet so I will not on your advice. I suspect it is the overwatering that has caused the damage .I will soak the peas and not have the compost too wet
Thanks again Brenjon

Maybe if you angle the gutter slightly so any excess water drains out there will be less of a problem

Hi Goldilox,
I appreciate what you are saying, and it makes perfect sense, but if there is water to run out of the gutter then you have actually over watered the Peas. If you think that the Peas are really dry test the compost and then probably the best method would be is to mist the surface until it is just damp and no more.
JB.

Hi Johnboy,

I think the extra depth that the roottrainer gives the peas is worth the effort in terms of the root system and end result. But 3 in a 7 cm square pot is probably just as good. They can also be nicely spaced out.