Seed Saving and Mildew?

[agreenmess]

Hey,

I'm hoping someone will point me in the right direction, over the weekend my pea plants had gotten a case of mildew, and it seemed to just pop up over the weekend as when I checked my plants on the Friday they were fine, and sadly it had spread throughout my peas.

As I didn’t know how to react and as our allotments are so “stuck up” that I removed all traces of the peas, as I was worried I was going to be thrown off. And I will be disposing of them down at the local tip.

Now I'm really worried as the peas I planted this year are heritage varieties which I was wanting to save the seeds for, I picked as many “ready” peas as I could, that didn’t have mildew on them.

Is it possible to dry these seeds out as they are in the conservatory? Or will I have to get the seeds again and try again next year?

Also is it possible that this mildew might transfer itself to my pumpkins, which are two beds down?

Thank you for any help ,

Nessy x

[grahamhobbs]

I'd be interested in what other people say but my limited experience is that when I've picked seeds 'green' and then dried them, they do not germinate, they just rot. Now that may be just a bad coincidence when I've done it, I'm not sure.

[Flo]

I think that you have to let seeds dry in situ and then pick them. At least that is the advice I've read with regard to peas and beans. They need to be almost dry before you take them off the plant.

[agreenmess]

Ahhhh thanks flo/grahamhobbs, guess i will just be having alot of soup sadly :), good thing i saved two seeds from each pack, just hoped i didnt have to use them!

You wouldnt know how long till i can plant something else in the spot of the peas would you?

Thanks

Nessy x

[grahamhobbs]

As far as I know in my experience, the mildew is not transferred to subsequent crops or even to neighbouring crops. It is basically everywhere in the air and simply flourishes in the right conditions on certain crops, particularly peas at this time of year, but also courgettes and pumpkins. I've also got some carrots that are a bit affected as well this year. None of my crops that are affected are near each other.

[Odsox]

I'd be interested in what other people say but my limited experience is that when I've picked seeds 'green' and then dried them, they do not germinate, they just rot. Now that may be just a bad coincidence when I've done it, I'm not sure.

I'm not sure what would happen if you dried them but I certainly have experience of un-dried peas germinating.
Down here in the (very) humid south west, I have found peas on many occasions that have germinated in the pod, and those would have been relatively green peas that I had picked to shell and eat.

Nessy, if you want to know for certain, do a germination test. Put a few peas on moist paper towel in a margarine container ... if nothing has happened in 10 days they are duff, if some have germinated you can work out what percentage will grow next year.
As Graham says, mildew is not carried from year to year so it's quite safe to even plant peas again in the same spot next year, only maybe sow them a bit earlier to miss the mildew conditions (wet at the leaves, dry at the roots, as my grandfather would have said)

[agreenmess]

Thanks grahamhobbs and Odsox, you've made me a happy bunny today

I havent shelled the peas yet, so will go through them and pick the one i know are fully ripe and see if i can dry them out, once dried i will do a test on them and *fingers crossed* they germinate!!

Nessy x