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Why won't my sweetpea seeds germinate?

Sue PartridgeSue Partridge Posts: 79
in Problem solving
A few weeks ago I planted some sweetpea seeds outside in pots in  a cold frame. None have come up. I also tried a couple in the living room in a pot in a polythene bag-nothing there either! Please help. thanks
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Posts

  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    I think you need to wait a bit longer, mine took an absolute age to germinate, both inside and out!
  • Sue PartridgeSue Partridge Posts: 79
    Ok- need to be more patient then! Thanks
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Mice love sweet pea seeds. I have to start mine in the house, as they get eaten in the greenhouse. A possibility ?
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    About 60% of mine germinated but the others, mostly the hard shelled ones some of which I had chitted, refused to come through. When I checked about three weeks later all had rotted .

    Instead I put them in little lidded pots sitting on a ‘bed’ of damp kitchen towel and with a single sheet of damp kitchen paper on top. I put the lid back on, left them in the heated conservatory and within 4 or 5 days they had all sprouted. I let them stay in their ‘beds’ for a few more days till the roots/stems were about 1cm long and then very delicately placed them in plant pots covered with a little compost. After a week all were sprouting and have now almost caught up with the seeds originally sown.
    Rutland, England
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I have mousetraps next to mine. In this really cold weather, the danger is that they rot off before germinating.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Over the years I have had whole packets where not one has germinated.i don't chit, soak or chill, didn't matter whether they were bought or my own saved.swore I wouldn't do another autumn sowing, because the green houses are always full in winter, guess what sowed them 19th October, just because they came free in another gardening mag,in a frost in free greenhouse every one germinated
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I think they can be a bit fussy.

    In a bid to get mine started and maturing well ahead of any spring heatwave and drought like we had last year I sowed a packet in a large pot outside in early December.   5 germinated and too their own sweet time about it.   In February I sowed another packet in the same pot and I now have a dozen or more new seedlings but only a few inches high and nowhere near ready to be pinched out, let alone big enough to get going before the heat comes.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889


    Sweet peas at the back. Sown March 14th , pic taken March 28th.
    Seed from Lidl last year 5 packets for £1. Almost 100% germination, no soaking or chitting.
    Devon.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Oooh, hosta, thats the be old mans birthday,and I see you haven't used root trainers or even deep pots
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Nanny Beach said:
    Oooh, hosta, thats the be old mans birthday,and I see you haven't used root trainers or even deep pots
    I never do use deep pots and they're always fine.
    Devon.
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