The peas have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria called Rhizobium. Peas have the ability to “fix” atmospheric nitrogen through nodules on their roots, which means that they can convert the atmospheric nitrogen into a form useable by the plant, thus giving the plant more nitrogen. I don’t use an inoculant but you can if you want too. I plant about 1 to 2 inches deep in a place where I have already inserted a metal trellis. I then plant them outside about 4 inches apart when the soil is not too wet. Within two days, the seeds will have germinated. I leave them on a shelf, I do not put them under grow lights. Then drain the water off and place the now plump seeds in moist paper coffee filters or paper towels in zipped plastic bags. They are not viable and will not germinate. The optimum soil temperature for germination is actually 80 degrees but you cannot wait that long (i.e., summer) as it will get too hot to grow the plants.Īfter the seeds have soaked, there will be a few that have floated to the top of the water. They need the soil temperatures to be at least 45 degrees in order to germinate. Although this is not required, in my experience, it helps to prevent rotting which may occur if I were to plant the dry seeds in the cold soil. Patrick’s Day is my cue to soak the seeds in water overnight. In our family we prefer the sugar snap peas where you eat pea and pod together but shelling peas and snow peas are also started during March’s cool weather. March is the time to grow peas here in Northern Virginia.
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