Peas Please

[Stroppy scotte]

Hiya
What exactly is the best way to grow peas in order to get the best crop. I know we didn't have a clue what we were doing last year but had an abysmal (great word for this time during half term ) crop last year, not helped by a daughter who ate most of them before we left the lottie. Most of them grew at ground level and were mutilated!!!
Advice needed. I would like to have enough this year to eat and freeze for the winter!!
SS

[Amanda1]

I start mine off in root trainers and plant out when they are about 3 inches high. The ones I grew last year were supposed to be self supporting but I didn't trust that. If I had any pea sticks I would use them but otherwise I just used gardens canes at regular intervals which then had string across (3 times) up to half the cane. When I planted out I tied in the plant to the cane/string and left them to it from there. I did not have any slug problem as the plants were big enough to not have leaves or tendrils close to ground level, or I could just have been lucky. I do my french beans the same way

[Stroppy scotte]

Thanks Amanda.
Will have to decide today which way to go!
SS

[Geordie]

I tried victorian climbing peas from Victoriana Nurseries last year....plants grew to approx 7' (was using 8' canes) and them some. Produced masses of pods...and eventually collapsed the framework. Have built a permanent frame for this year!

[Stroppy scotte]

Thanks Geordie
Not sure which peas we have OH seems to have bought so many!!!!
Will have to have a good search through the tins and decide which to start off!!
SS