Can you move pea seedlings?

BouncingBack · May 2023

Planted probably 20 peas along here, and many haven't appeared yet. Should I give up hope, or could they still turn up? If not, can I move some of the ones that are growing so that they have more space?

Fairygirl · May 2023

They might have been eaten if they were sown direct, so you may have to bear that in mind. Mice like them.
It's why most people sow in pots first and plant out later.

BouncingBack · May 2023

I wondered if they'd been eaten. Should I plant more or can I move the existing ones?

Fairygirl · May 2023

I'd sow more in pots, or root trainers, depending on what you have, so that you can keep an eye on them, and plant those out when they're big enough. Best done indoors - house or greenhouse etc, so that they'll come away fairly quickly, and conditions will be good for planting out

The plants you have there are very small, and very vulnerable to molluscs at that stage. I don't think many folk will have peas and beans out yet, unless they're big enough, and their conditions are suitable at this time of year.

BouncingBack · May 2023

I've got some seed trays, will sow some and if these ones out already end up as slug food I'll plant the ones sown indoors instead (have no greenhouse). Thank you for the advice 🙂

Fairygirl · May 2023

Seed trays will be a bit shallow. You can use anything that's deep enough to accommodate roots- doesn't have to be a proprietary container. Cream/yogurt pots or similar are fine. Anything you can make holes in. Some people use toilet roll inners etc.
I use takeaway coffee cups for my sweet peas - they're perfect.

BouncingBack · May 2023

Ah thanks for the tip. Is it one pea/seed per container?

Fairygirl · May 2023

It would depend on the size of container - loo rolls would be one, but something like those coffee cups you'd sow two, and either separate at a suitable stage [ie when there's proper leaves] or just remove one.

BouncingBack · May 2023

I have a large amount of empty pots in various sizes from previously purchased plants. Can a container be too big? Also can I just use multi purpose peat free compost, or do I have to use compost specifically for sowing seeds? I just used the multi purpose peat free for these ones I've got outdoors.

Some do seem to be sprouting later (see pic), but I'm not hopeful any of them will survive once a single slug finds them.

Fairygirl · May 2023

I've never used seed compost - it's fine for autumn sowing because you don't want loads of growth over winter, and fresh commercial compost can be a bit nutrient rich. If I sow anything in autumn [very rare] I just use old compost from the annuals or similar. The compost you have will be fine, if you're happy with it.

You can use pots you already have - I should have said that, but I'd be wary of using anything too big, as it makes separating them harder if they all grow well, and it's harder to keep them moist, but not too wet, as the more compost you have, the easier it is for it to stay wet for too long. I'd stick with something suitable for two or three seeds at most, to keep it simple. A 3 or 4 inch pot.

bertrand-mabel · May 2023

Agree with @Fairygirl We always sow in pots and then transplant out when big enough and when the conditions are OK. We don't use seed compost either. However this year we sowed about 7 seeds in each pot and when transplanted out didn't divide them just planted the group together. They are doing better than usual and now are flowering. Have just sown some more seeds in pots in the polytunnel.

Can you move pea seedlings?

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