I always plant them in the fall.

GGG, how does that work for you? I had always heard that the seedlings are more cold hardy than the more mature plants and that they wouldn't make it through the winter.

I usually plant mine in the ground late Jan or early Feb. One time I presprouted them in a moist paper towel. (I soaked them overnight first like I do for regular planting.) I can't remember if it worked better. I ought to do a test and plant half the regular way and half pre-spouted.

I think the problem with raising seedlings in pots would be letting them get too big so that the roots are disturbed at planting.

Well, it has worked well so far, until perhaps today or this year. At Holy C. we lost all our peas as of yesterday to severe frost bite. Some of mine looked OK yesterday, some did not....

Sorry GGG. I lost a few things too.

So with the peas, I will plant some WHEN this persisting cold is over, hopefully. I love sugar snaps.

i thought peas and beans were something you were always supposed to sow directly in the ground?