Growing Peassubmitted on 1 August 2012
If you have thought about growing peas but have never tried it, please have a go, as there are few things better than the taste of your own freshly-picked peas. I started harvesting mine last weekend from plants sown at the start of April and they were delicious.
There are different types of peas - early, maincrop and second-early. Early peas grow quickly to 16 - 24 inches tall, with maincrop peas growing more slowly but reaching 30 - 48 inches in height. Second-earlies fall between the two. There are also older varieties of pea which grow up to 6 feet tall which are available from specialist suppliers. However the taller the plant - the more support required. Early peas take around 12 weeks to mature with second-earlies taking 14 weeks and maincrop peas 16 weeks. Peas come in round and wrinkle-seeded varieties. The latter are sweeter and best for later sowing while the former are hardier and best for early sowing.
Peas do best in sunny, well-drained sites where the soil has a pH of 6 or over. Where previous crops have been manured and fertilised there should be no need for further feeding, but otherwise add a bucketful of well-rotted organic matter per square yard.
Peas can be sown from mid-autumn in mild regions or from late winter where the soil is light and well-drained. The chance of success with these plantings will be greatly increased by the use of cloches and fleece. I covered my raised bed with polythene sheeting to warm the soil before planting at the start of April but my seeds had no protection after sowing. To give a succession of fresh peas you should make another sowing after the seedlings from the previous sowing exceed 2 inches in height.
Seeds should be sown 0.5 inch apart in drills 2 inches deep, with the drills as far apart as the expected height of the plant. Soil should then be raked into the drill and firmed down with the rake head to ensure that seeds are in close contact with the soil. Protect the seeds by placing a wire netting tunnel or similar over them to stop birds digging them up. Plants should later be thinned to one every 3 inches. When plants are 3-4 inches tall you should erect netting on posts to give support. This should be as tall as the expected height of the mature plant. For an early crop where your garden has wet, heavy clay soil seeds can be sown in pots, celltrays or guttering in a cold frame or greenhouse, and planted out later. If using guttering remember to drill drainage holes at regular intervals before filling with seed compost.
Watering peas before they flower may decrease the number of pods produced as it increases the amount of foliage produced. However once flowering begins soak the soil using at least two watering cans per square yard, and repeat two weeks later.
Pick your peas once the seeds have swollen, working from the bottom of the plant first. Harvest them regularly, eat them fresh and do not overcook them.
There may be a variety of pests waiting to attack your crop, the most destructive of which is the pea moth. This lays eggs on the pea flowers after which the caterpillars penetrate the pea pods and eat the seeds. This can be controlled by spraying with insecticide at the beginning of the flowering period and again two weeks later. Organic gardeners exclude the pea moth by using insect-proof mesh, which also excludes aphids which can also be a problem. Aphids can be attracted away from pea plants by using a sacrificial plant such as nasturtiums , lavender or rosemary.
Mangetout and sugarsnap peas are grown in the same way as shelling peas but are ready in 8-10 weeks, before the seeds swell.
Some recommended varieties for you to try are as follows:- early - Feltham First, Misty second-early - Jaguar, Early Onward maincrop - Dorian, Oasis. Kelvedon Wonder can be used as an early or maincrop. For sugarsnap peas try Cascade or Sugar Ann and for mangetout try Oregon Sugar Pod or Reuzensuiker. Once you have successfully grown peas you may find it interesting to try growing some of the older heritage varieties obtainable from the more specialist suppliers.
|
