Growing Peas

[littlegreenman]

Hi guys, ive decided to grow Peas for the first time this year, and i wondered if anyone has any hints or tips for me, cheers.

[bluemoon]

There are many ways which I'm sure all the grapes will be along to explain in a moment, such as using guttering. Personally I just sprout them between damp kitchen paper, scrape out a shallow drill then scatter them in the bottom, before covering. I then lay netting over the top until after the shoots appear then push some twiggy sticks in. It's the lazy way to do it, but I love fresh peas and I grow loads so I'd need more guttering that Barratt's if I tried that particular method. Careful choice of varieties and kind weather often means that you can have peas for 5 or 6 months of the year. - Can't wait

[littlegreenman]

Cheers for the info bluemoon

[middlefield]

I sowed straight in to the ground and found them all gone by the morning!

(little footprints leading away showed the culprits as the local mouse community!)

I did some in guttering last year, they were fantastic, but I don't have enough guttering and space to do anywhere near the numbers I require. I have heard of people soaking the peas in paraffin prior to planting though which I am told is very successful and doesn't harm the pea.

This year I'm going to plant direct again, but this time I'm going to cover the seeds before they germinate with loads of wire and sticks etc to keep mickey and his mates off them

[jeannine]

I love fresh peas - I'd rate them up there with asparagus- and nothing tastes as good as the just-picked ones.

The peas you usually see in the shops that grow two or three feet tall are often quite modern varieties that have been bred with the farmer in mind, not the home grower.

My favourite varieties are the climbing peas that can grow up to six foot (or more). You can easily get twice as many from the same space and effort and they taste every bit as good.

Victoriana sell huge packets of Victorian Climbing peas for around £4, or you can order loads of different varieities from the Heritage Seed Library.

[littlegreenman]

I think i found your culprite.

[jeannine]

PS My usual method is to soak the peas in a glass of water overnight, then plant them in root trainers so they get really healthy long roots - this gets them off to a flying start - but then I need to pamper them a bit as I live in Essex which has less rain than some desserts!

[littlegreenman]

Cheers guys, any idea how early i can sow them?

[bobleponge]

No rain in my raspberry fool Jeannine

[Winged one]

Well, I planted a second sowing of Kelvedon Wonder yesterday on the plot - the first were sown last November. Both directly into the soil (in November I covered the drill with holly leaves at the start, but forgot yesterday so I hope they will still be there to grow). Will be putting some twiggy sticks up for some rows, and proper wire support for others (don't have enough for all).

Will put a few more drills in as the season warms up - we love peas in this house. And a couple of rows of mangetout (by row, I mean about 4 foot, not the entire length of the plot!).

I also grow a tub of them at home up bamboo pyramid - bung them into the tub and later add in the bamboo stakes. Works very well in a small space.

[supersam]

Hi
Ive had success 2 years running with mine. I dont soak, just plant in a tray indoors until big and strong enough then outside into a tub gently wrapped round bamboo canes in tubs. Maybe good luck but they seemed quite easy to grow.

Good luck

Sam

[Farmer_Gyles]

i've got kelvedon wonder to sow now - i dont like sowing anything directly into the ground because of slugs / birds / mice etc - so i do most veggies in seed trays / plugs / small pots and transplant later
packet says to sow them 2in deep - which is same depth as seed trays
a friend told me about sowing runner beans in toilet roll tubes - would the same work with peas?

[Two_Sheds]

a friend told me about sowing runner beans in toilet roll tubes - would the same work with peas?

yes, ideal. Peas and beans don't really like having their roots disturbed.

[Farmer_Gyles]

thanks two_sheds - i've saved up dozens of toilet roll tubes so i'll crack on with that!

[bridget mc laughlin]

Hi everyone,i dip all my pea seeds in parafin for a day then sow them that always keeps the mice off.