Mangetout seedlings

[reetnproper]

I have 5 sturdy little mangetouts (Oregon Sugar Pod) happily growing on in the greenhouse but I want to get them into the ground. My wigwam is in place, the netting is ready but the weather !!!!!

We haven't had any snow but it's very cold and we've still had a few frosts and I know that I could, in theory, have sown these in situ last month and let nature take it's course.

So my question this time is, provided I harden them off over the next couple of days, will these be ok to plant out now or should I wait until the frosts have passed (by which time we'll probably be talking day of the triffids ) ?

Many thanks
Reet
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[Paulottie]

5..?!...hope you live on your own and have a small appetite.

Simple answer is 'yes' should be ok ....just about! Pretty tough things peas...not a great turn in weather of late though and generally sugar snaps are a bit more later season than this.

[reetnproper]

Thanks for that.

5..?!...hope you live on your own and have a small appetite.

LOL, I have another later sowing which I hope will do just as well. As this is the first year I've grown these, I decided to try just a few. If I do well with them (relatively speaking of course) then next year I'll grow more but (and I've learnt this the hard way), it isn't worth putting a lot of resource and growing room into a crop I've never grown before, in case it doesn't do well. The space 'wasted' could have been turned over to veggies I know do well in our garden.

Reet
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[gojiberry]

Mange tout and sugar snap are not as hardy as first early peas so if possible try to give them a bit of protection especially from cold winds.

Ian

[tamsin]

I'm going to plant out my mange tout in the next few days (different variety), I'll pop a plastic bottle with the bottom cut over the top of each to start with to give them a bit of extra protection. They've been out in a plastic greenhouse so far and done fine. There is actually one in the front garden that selfseeded the end of last year and has been there all winter!

[Paulottie]

Very sensible advice Ian.

now you've committed the space for a wigwam use it. You can definitely pack em in with peas Reet...good to have a successional sowing thing going on though as they are a bit here today - gone tomorrow.... at least 20-25 on a wigwam..sow another batch and then sow some direct when you plant others out.

I promise you won't regret it..kinda like sweetcorn or asparagus ...once you've tasted them sweet, strait and fresh from the vine you realise shopbrought are a pale starchy imitation.

[reetnproper]

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated as usual.

Regards
Reet
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[Welsh Wizard]

Direct sowed my mangetout today. Best veg in the plot IMO! I have a mix of module and direct sown as the birds take a toll on the seedlings, and having a feww back to plug the gaps is good. Oversowing is a good idea too.