To Soak or Not To Soak? (sweet peas)

Basically, it's very simple - I'm confused about sweet pea propagation.

I've decided to try and grow them from seed this year, and it says on the back of the seed packet that they need to be soaked the night before sowing. However, I was just watching last week's Gardener's World on iplayer, and Monty Don says they don't need any special treatment like soaking or pricking at all!

So now I'm a bit lost and I'd really really appreciate some advice from anyone who's grown them before. Thankyou!

 

I grew them last year for the first time and soaked them. I had excellent germination. This year I am going to do some soaked and some not to see if there is a difference.

Rusty

 

Quite the opposite! I sow my sweet pea seeds in a thin layer of sand sandwiched between seed sowing compost, as I've always found too many simply rot when sown in wet compost.

 

Mine are rotting off like mad this year, I've sown about 4 lots. Never had a problem before.

 

I used to soak my SP seeds but didn't bother this year . It may give you a little better germination . I start them in the house and then move them out to the GH when they have got going . I sow SPs in MPC and make sure it is just damp by mixing with water and sharp sand before potting up , so I don't need to water after. I have not had a very good show of them for the last two years hopefully this year will be good !

 

I haven't soaked mine this year and they have come up a treat

 

I soak mine. I think it makes them germinate sooner, and more consistently - i.e. they all come up at the same time.

I don't think soaking them will do any harm, and obviously seeds like that manage to germinate just fine in the wild without soaking, per se , so I think its up to you. If you have time and are organised enough to soak them overnight I can't see that it will do any harm - but if you accidentally forget about them for several days then it probably would.

 

Ditto!
I leave 20mm between the top of the pot and the compost (sterilised with boiling water) and surface sow. When the shoots are 30mm or so I earth them up with a dry mix. Whole process takes about four days!

Truth be told, I don't think that there is a right or wrong way with annual sweet peas, just what works for you.

I would absolutely recommend soaking the perennial sweet pea seed though.

 

I didn't soak the Lathyrus azureus you sent me (fully intended to, worked my way down my seed list, opened the packet, when "Oh Blast" as I had mean to soak them the night before, but went ahead and sowed them anyway ... and they were up within couple of days, no more. That was a week ago and they are bolting for the sky already!

 

I do not soak seed as the drenching they get from me is enough to soak them until they creep up to the surface.
They have always come good for me, and that goes for Morning Glory too.

 

Ooops never gave it a thought to soak my 'Morning Glory'... just put them straight in but they are up and doing

 

So it seems like it's more a matter of personal opinion than anything? idk, I think I'll do what some of you guys suggested and soak some and just plant others XD Or even just sow them straight into the ground come May...

 

never soak , in they go but I do water them in then leave alone

 

There you go Bastloki , one simple question on GC and you have 10 answers to chose from , which boil down to Yes , No , Sometimes !

 

You forgot ... depends