Pea problems..... as usual !

[Normans Mum]

Hi
I love peas. Infact, of all the veggies I think they are the best. Unfortunately I have had very little success growing them
What are the best growing conditions for them? My soil is quite heavy, especiallynow with the never ending rain.
A fellow plotter said to add lots of compost in to the area to make it lighter, and perhaps some sand. Has anyone tried this?

[chris]

Well, if your soil is heavy (clay?) then quite rightly by adding in organic material you'll open it up, which will improve drainage, and allow some air in the mix. Your peas could have rotted, or have they actually germinated and just aren't fruiting?

[zazen999]

Get them germinated in root trainers/loo roll innerds/paper pots and once they are a good 6 inches tall, then plant them out in blocks - pop a cane at each corner and tie twine round them all at 1 foot intervals, and throw a fine net over them to prevent pea moth.

It's the only way it works on bulk for me.

[redser]

Mine have been working out well. I chitted them first and then grew them on in root trainers. Then planted them out when they were about 4-6 inches high. They had good roots at that stage and grew away. The soil is heavy clay but I manured it well last autumn. I also added some compost with fish blood and bone mixed into the planting hole. oh, and before I planted them out, I dug a trench for them about 8 - 9 inches deep and stuck in lots of newspaper and leaves I saved. Trampled it all down and then threw in a few cans of water and let it drain. Gives a good water resevior of water for the deep roots. Hope that helps?

[Normans Mum]

Chris- soil not clay, just heavy. Did add lots of horse manure in November because it hadn't been worked for ages... other than that, I really don't know.
Zazen- thanks for the tip I will try it. Have about a gazillion toilet roll innards.

[Normans Mum]

Thanks Redser, sounds interesting. Did put about 6 huge bags of manure down last Autumn, but doesn't seem to have helped. Will just keep trying.

[redser]

That's the spirit So what's the problem? Germination or dont grow big?

[Potstubsdustbins]

After mouse trouble in previous years, last year I took 2Shed's advice and pre-chitted all my peas prior to planting. Had a great crop have done the same again this year and once again we are now picking plenty of peas.

Colin

[kfbtiz]

growing the best peas ever this year i started growing them in lengths of guttering in the poly tunnel, hardening them off for a few days during the day only and planting them out when way from they are about 4-6 inches tall, this gives them a chance to get away from the mice and slugs, really important this year, also even though it says on the seed packet 'no need for support' grown them up some chicken wire with a bit of luck they will be a result this year.

[Alison]

I find that guttering is much better for peas than root trainers as loads quicker to plant out (you just slide out the guttering) and you use less compost too . I've never put manure or anything on my pea bed and they seem to grow fine although I will grow a green manure there over the previous winter and then throw on some home made compost when I dig that in.

[mothhawk]

Get them germinated in root trainers/loo roll innerds/paper pots and once they are a good 6 inches tall, then plant them out in blocks - pop a cane at each corner and tie twine round them all at 1 foot intervals, and throw a fine net over them to prevent pea moth.

It's the only way it works on bulk for me.

I've only grown peas once - are they self fertile then - if you put a fine net over to keep out moths, that must keep out pollinators too? And if you grow them in a block, do you have to harvest the whole lot in one go, i.e. pulling them up and picking off the pods, or can you get at the middle ones to pick as and when you want some and leave the rest growing?

How do you prevent mildew too? That's why I didn't grow them again, they got mildew badly.

[Alison]

I don't need to net my peas as have never had a problem with pea moth round here, thankfully, have enough other pests to cope with. However, not only are peas self fertile but they actually fertilise themselves before the flowers actually open so they're probably the easiest thing from which to safe pure seed.

I grow mine in rows and never pull any plants up (apart from accidently while weeding) until the plants have died by which time the pods I've left for next years seeds will be nice and dry. You don't want to plant them so thickly that you can't get at some of the pods as they don't all swell at the same time.

[Kestrel]

I've had good peas for all two years I've grown them. Have direct sown 4 lots this year on clay soil with near 100% germination. I just drag a drill 2-3 inches deep, fill with compost and sow into that.

This keeps down weeds while they are young and stops the peas rotting in wet soli. Slugs seem to avoid them. If mice are a problem cover with fine netting while germinating. Saves all the fuss of transplanting and the plants are healthier. Only time I sowed into toilet rolls they grew much more slowly than the direct sown and were smaller, weaker plants.

[zazen999]

I've only grown peas once - are they self fertile then - if you put a fine net over to keep out moths, that must keep out pollinators too? And if you grow them in a block, do you have to harvest the whole lot in one go, i.e. pulling them up and picking off the pods, or can you get at the middle ones to pick as and when you want some and leave the rest growing?

How do you prevent mildew too? That's why I didn't grow them again, they got mildew badly.

They are pollinated by the time the flowers open, I harvest the pods as they fill up by lifting the netting off, and don't get mildew. However this year - that may happen. I grow most things in blocks though - rows are a waste of space IMHO.

See pic...

[Vince G]

grown peas for the first time this year and they're brilliant. Douce Provence overwintered have just finished and Kelvedon Wonders are now starting. Soil is very light at the lottie, and I manured a month or two before the seeds went in. DP was sown direct in late October, KW sown in modules. I'll do same with DP this year as they were to densely packed, might get an even better crop that way. Very chuffed, as we've eaten loads of DP and have a nice big bag in the freezer too. No pest problems either. Good luck with yours, hope you enjoy as much as we are.