I need to plant some but my garden is powder dry.

oldbusy1,

I planted with a lister planter. They push the dry dirt to the side and plant in the exposed moist soil, about three inches below the original surface.

I still haven't figured out if the poor germination rate is due to uneven moisture or old seed or planter adjustment or operator head space etc...

Last year we bought seed from a different supplier. We got better than 90% germination rate. This year looks more like 70%. AND some are dying right after sprouting. Again, this is so different from last year.

However, it ain't boring! I expect (hope for) about 1,000# of dried peas from 1.5 acres.

I went to Holman Seed Farm for PEPH peas, they were out and said there was a crop failure and wouldn't be getting more. Found some else where, planted twice, 2 different sources, crappy germination both times. I was wondering if it was too hot. This summer is throwing me for a loop.

AmyinOwasso/zone 6b(6b)

I doubt it is too hot. We planted in the heat the last two years with very good results. My main concern is old seed. I hope the rest of my peph seed isn't old.

I've had poor germination on purple hulls the last few years. I know some of the bulk seed sellers around here will keep them till they finally sell all of it. No telling how old the seed is.

It would have had to be pretty hot to impede seed germination---I've had it sprout when the soil temperatures themselves were at least 95, and reportedly southern pea seed will germinate at soil temperatures up to 98 degrees although I don't think I've ever sown southern pea seeds when soil temps were that high. Having said that, we had a week in the first week of June here where the max soil temp each day was over 100 degrees daily. Since the soil wasn't that hot 24/7 I expect a person would have gotten some seed germination even though, though likely not as much as they would have if the soil temperature was staying cooler. Soils cooled off a bit with the next round of flooding in July, but went back to a max soil temp over 100 in mid-July and stayed there for the rest of the month. They've been slightly cooler in July, likely because it has been partly cloudy every day even though the rain mostly has eluded us.

I never even got southern peas planted this year but I still have about a dozen bags of frozen southern peas in the freezer so we will still have some southern peas to eat over the next few months. First it was flooded, and then the soil was way too wet and I felt like disease would be an issue if I sowed the seeds, and then it got hot and dry fast and I decided to leave things the way they were.

Johnny, Have you not had any rain? I remember when you sowed the seed and I would have expected to see your plants be a little larger by now if there was even just moderate rainfall.

As for the age of the seed, how long any legume seed stays viable can depend on how it was stored. When dried down to low moisture content and stored in airtight containers in a freezer, it can remain viable for a long, long time---maybe 10 years. The standard for bean and pea to remain viable enough to germinate at a decent percentage is 3 years, and that would be for dry seed stored in airtight packaging at standard indoor room temperatures and humidity. Every year you go beyond 3 years, the percentage that germinates drops, and it drops even more if the seed is stored in an outdoor structure like a barn or shed. It even varies depending on the variety. However no matter what southern pea seed I am using, I see a significant drop in germination after 3 years if it wasn't stored in the freezer. I try to use up all my pea seed within 2 years of purchasing it because we don't even know how old pea seed is when we get it. Most packets, at least in home gardener sizes, only show either the date it was packed of the date the seed company says it expires. For all we know, we could be getting 2 or 3 year old seed when we buy a packet of seeds, so it wouldn't last as long as you'd expect if that is the case. In the quantity that you buy seed, I would expect it would be fresh seed though.

Dying right after sprouting could indicate they are too dry but also could be an indication of a disease issue. Southern peas are prone to disease in wet years but as late as you planted, I wouldn't expect that to be an issue with your plants. Had you planted in May and had rain like I had in that time frame, I would have expected every plant to die. If you had to go down 3" to find good soil moisture, I wouldn't think your soil would have been wet enough overall for soil-borne diseases to be an issue.

I do know people here who lost their tomato plants to fusarium wilt this summer, though, and southern peas also can be affected by fusarium so that might be a possibility.

Dawn,

They just got a drink today (SW Payne County). I will have to cultivate this week because the rain will bring weeds up.
I'll take another picture in a week. Wish us luck.

Johnny, how did your moringa do? I got 5 seedlings, 4 died and the last one got broken and is likely dead.

Amy,

I had similar results. Good germination, then died.

I will read more about them this Winter.

Growing food to donate has been a real challenge this year. It has demanded most of my attention.

I'm thinking I'll try cow pots next year. Cow Pots

I think they would improve the transplant survival rate.

Johnny, I'm so glad you got rain. Those poor plants looked so thirsty in your photo. I hope you get more, and you know that I ALWAYS wish you luck. With the weather we have, luck is an essential part of getting a good harvest because the weather certainly can turn balky and uncooperative in a heartbeat.

I know that Jay has used cow pots some years. Maybe if he sees this he will mention whether he's been happy with them or not. If they work well for him in SW KS, they should work fine for you there.

Dawn