QUESTION: Why are my peas not germinating? Is there anything I can do? – Ken L.
ANSWER: Bear in mind that pea seeds germinate quickest in warm soil, so if it’s a cool spring, your seeds may just need a little more time to sprout. If the soil is 38 degrees Fahrenheit, expect your seeds to take 21 to 30 days to sprout, whereas in soil that is 65 to 70 degrees, they’ll sprout in 7 to 14 days. You’re likely to also see a lower germination rate in colder soil and higher germination rate when soil is warmer.
You can increase the speed and success rate of germination by soaking your pea seeds for 12 hours just before planting them. You can also set your seeds up with the conditions that make for successful germination by planting one inch deep and keeping the soil consistently moist but not oversaturated. Make sure to use viable seeds—after three or four years, seeds are expired and unlikely to germinate.
