I can't seem to grow sweet peas. I sow the seeds in spring, but they are slow to germinate. My neighbors claim that they need to be scarified. Please explain how to do this.
The seed coat of sweet peas has a high density, and moisture penetrates it with difficulty. It is water that initiates the germination process of the seeds. The only way to solve this problem is to break down this barrier. Scarification, or scratching the coat, can help with this. This can be done using not too coarse sandpaper, gently 'rubbing' the seeds between two sheets.
You can also soak the pea seeds overnight and then plant only those that have swelled. Only a small amount of water should be added for this.
It is recommended to sow peas in March in nine-centimeter pots, with 3–5 seeds in each. At the end of May, they should be transplanted to a permanent location, keeping the root ball intact.
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