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Q: For the last three or four years our peas have had a problem. We plant them and maybe half come up and sometimes none. We replant and a few more come up. This spring, we planted a 3 m (10 ft.) row on the other side of the netting and none came up. We replanted again and none came up. My wife dug up some small shoots and the bottom roots had rotted off. The area is not wet. We fertilize a bit and water well. We planted a row of sugar peas 3 m (10 ft.) away and they all came up. Any suggestions? Grow beans? Take up bird watching? Get my peas in a tin can?
It certainly sounds as if you have had a challenging time trying to achieve a successful pea crop. From your information, I suspect you have Fusarium wilt, in the form of root rot, which can develop at any stage and is caused by soil-borne fungi. It can be difficult to control soil-borne pathogens once established, but it’s never too late for prevention for future crops. Before you’re ready to plant again here are some tips:
There’s nothing like fresh garden peas, so try not to be discouraged by this hiccup; you may be reduced to canned peas for one season, however, unless you have an alternative spot to grow them for rotation purposes. Incidentally, bird watching is a good plan regardless, they have been known to pinch those seeds or young seedlings right out of the ground, before the plants have a chance to establish! Hope this information helps and you and your wife are enjoying homegrown bounty again before too long.