Early peas

[annie8]

Have been growing alderman peas for a few years. I have the space to have a big wooden structure and I do enjoy them. I can’t seem to avoid them all ripening at the same time and I end up with a glut even if I sow sequentially. Was thinking I might try growing that and an earlier variety to try and spread the season a bit. Is there an early pea people would recommend ? With alderman i tend to get the crop lateish July. I have a greenhouse so could start them early and then plant out.

[RedRuth]

I grew Meteor this year and they were pretty good. I started them off in the greenhouse in March and had Peas by the end of May/beginning of June. This year I've already started some Douce Provence that I'll plant out when they're up along with some Broad Beans.

I'm in the middle of Bristol so we tend to have fairly mild winters - I start them in guttering by the way, never in the ground.

[annie8]

Thanks had a quick look at them and looks like I could start them in nov in the gh then plant out. They are pretty low growing though which I assume means thou get less of a crop than from ones like alderman that grows to 6 feet plus. Maybe I could do both types on the same structure?

[Penellype]

Another vote for Meteor. They are somewhat variable in height, possibly depending on how cold the spring is, but I have had them grow to a good 3ft high. They don't crop as heavily as my maincrop (Hurst Greenshaft) but there are usually plenty of peas. I start mine in February indoors and harvest in June, they are usually finished in time to use the ground again, either for late crop peas or tender crops such as outdoor tomatoes or courgettes.

[nick the grief]

Just to throw a spanner in the works ... I grow Douce Provence for early peas you can plant them now in your greenhouse. as to climbing jobbies I grow Alderman and Ne Plus Ultra normal peas and Carouby du Mausanne for a climbing Mangetout they have nice purple flowers so wouldn't look out of place in the flower border. I don't grow many of them just a few of each and enjoy them freshly cooked but also if you freeze them straight away theyre just as good.

When I had my old allotment I never managed to get any peas for home as I ate most of them at the plot