Transplant peas seedlings1/17/2024 ![]() Fall planting seedlings in the South will give the same slow growth and root development in the ground that Northern growers get in a pot. I’ve used the sow it and transplant it quickly method for years and it works really well in the South. Northern growers will plant into deep pots with lots of room for the transplants to develop as they grow in a very cold environment and then get planted in early spring. So the goal is to get the seed started in a controlled environment and have it ready to plant within 3 weeks from sowing. Crops that do not like their roots disturbed include beans, peas, and most root crops such as carrots and radishes. Disturbing the roots during the transplant process can result in transplant shock and stunted growth in your seedlings. Transplanting seedlings into the garden or a larger container is a critical step in their growth. If you want to start flower seeds in egg cartons, choose annuals like zinnias, sunflowers and marigolds. Sow too early and you get leggy plants due to the heat, too late and they don’t get established well before the cold. Some plants have delicate root systems or long taproots and do not like their roots to be disturbed. Vegetable seedlings like carrots, radishes, beets and peas don’t take well to being transplanted, so growing them in egg cartons is ideal. NOW- any northern grower who just read that is saying- “You’re wrong!” Here's one of the instances that Southern growing is different: in the South, we get a small window where we get the correct temps to sow sweet peas. You don’t need a super big or deep container. Sow into containers around 2” deep and around 1” in diameter. So don’t fret if you haven’t started yet, you’ve got plenty of time. You’ll want to wait until the temps are just right before sowing- daytime temps of average 60’s and nights at 45-55 degrees. ![]() Sweet pea seed is not cheap (around 50 cents a seed) and I’ve often seen seed rot or get eaten by rodents when direct seeded. It’s best to start sweet pea seeds in containers and plant out a transplant versus direct sowing. Some of my favorites are Nimbus, Oban Bay, Mollie Rilstone, Charlie’s Angel, and Strawberry Fields. Most flowering plants form two leaves upon germination. Additionally, pea seedlings require consistent moisture levels to grow correctly. We also recommend transplanting a seedling after its two true leaves first come out. If the temperature is too high, the plants may become stressed and can suffer from heat damage. The early types are bred for greenhouse growing and are not as cold tolerant. Pea seedlings prefer cooler temperatures, with an optimal range between 60-65F (15-18C). Look for varieties that say they are a spencer type as these are the late types and are better for growing outside. There are early and late flowering sweet peas.
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