To pea or not to pea?

[PMW]

Having dabbled with a bit of veg growing in a rather haphazrd manor for the last couple of years I am getting a bit more organised (hopefully!) this year and have set the sunniest bit of my garden over to 4 small raised beds 6ft x 3ft. I plan to have a permanant bed for asparagus, one for beans etc., a couple of courgettes in another and kale and leeks in a bed for next winter.

I have never grown peas before, but would like to have a go and did think about putting these in with the beans. My query is would I have time to grow some peas in the winter bed before the kale and leeks need to go in? If so when would be best time to sow? Also I was thinking of sowing the kale and leeks in pots initially before transplanting and wondered when best to sow these for harvesting Dec/Jan?

[Thelma Sanders]

I sow peas and sugar snap peas in the 2nd half of March, I start mine under fleece just till they're a couple of inches tall, and harvest mid June, you can then dib leeks and transplant the kale.
I sowed my leeks mid March last year and kale and winter cabbage in mid May

[Potstubsdustbins]

If you get an early maturing pea say 'Spring' they will crop from May onwards and be finished by July. This should then give you time to get your Kale transplanted.

Colin

[Jelliebabe]

Home grown peas are amay-zing! grow them if you can!

[Alison]

Grow tall but early ones for a good crop of lovely sweet peas

[Kaiya]

I grew mangetout last year and even with three successional sowings they were out by late summer also. I plant in blocks so limited support needed, and as a result I've gone for Shiraz this year (purple podded mangetout) because I had issues last year spotting green pods within the resulting thicket of mangetout!

[PMW]

Thanks all, it seems like the answer is a definate yes so I just need to get some seeds ordered.

I've had a look at the multitude of varieties available and Douce Provance sounds promising as a quick growing variety and the Shiraz also sound interesting. Just wondered if anyone had any reccomendations bearing in mind I will want them cleared in time for the leeks and kale? I couldn't find a specific 'Spring' variety Potstubsdustbins or have I misunderstood?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Marshalls Seeds order code 1030-3036 £1-95p. Have a look on their web site.

Colin

[Vince G]

I sowed Douce Provence in early Nov as they can apparently overwinter quite nicely. They're about 2 inches tall and show no ill effects from the hard frosts we've had here over the last couple of days. Hoping for some nice early peas in June! Something to consider for this coming November.

[PMW]

Well I've got my seeds now, Shiraz and Early Onward, and eager to get started.

Initially I thought I would start them off in newspaper pots in the plastic greenhouse around now so I can get an early crop and finish in time to get the kale and leeks in. With the weather turning cold I am having second thoughts.

As I see it I can either go ahead as planned and sow them into the newspaper pots in the plastic greenhouse, sow them indoors for better germination and then move them out, or just wait a few weeks until its warmed up a bit. Just wondered what those with more experience would advise?

Also I am thinking I should be sowing the kale and leeks (Bleu de Solaise) for next winter around April/May time - is this correct?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Don't know about kale but I am hanging fire on everything that would go in the GH for the moment as this cold spell is forecast to last till the end of the month.

When your ready to start if you 'chit' your peas as per 2Sheds advice you will find that progress is quite quick anyway.

Colin

[Alison]

If you want to start peas off early and leave it for a while until you plant out then I find the best way is in lengths of guttering. At this time of year I germinate them in a fairly cool conservatory and then move out to the cold greenhouse to grow on for a bit before planting out.

Re kale, I sow in April is and then plant out about the end of May. Leeks, have sown some already but will be sowing more next month. They'll be transplanted in clumps into a plastic trough when manageable and then planted out individually on the plot in early summer.

[MikeS]

Hi

Hope you don't mind me hijacking the thread.

I don't have a GH or a Polytunnel, so was planning on sowing some peas for the first time ( Douce Provence) in toilet roll tubes now, and storing in a spare light room until they had germinated, but with this weather I'm wondering if its too early ? How long do they typically take to germinate and be ready to plant out using this method ?

[Two_Sheds]

germination takes the same time whichever method you use Mike: it's the temperature that makes the difference.
Peas can tolerate low temps (round ones more so than wrinkly ones). I have some chitting on my windowsill now, they'll germinate in a day or two.

[MikeS]

Thank You TS for the response and link to the photos.

I think I'll try your chit method, and the get the toilet tubes out. So, estimating they will be ready to plant out 2-3 weeks following chitting, I'll wait til next weekend before making a start and hope to plant out in the first week in March.