Tall Peas

[SarzWix]

In the last couple of years I've had a huge problem with my tall peas and pea thrips, which get in the flowers and damage the pods before they're properly formed. Because they're so tall, it's impossible to protect them all with fleece or mesh, so I want to get them going earlier than usual in the hope of a crop before the thrips strike. Will I get away with sowing them now? They're mostly wrinkle seeded types from HSL, and can be kept in the tunnel for a little while.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I know that they are not as hardy as round seeded peas, but I'd be inclined to give it a go, Sarz - I know that you're a couple of weeks behind us weatherwise, but I've always sown my (tall) pea seeds in March and not had a problem with hardiness.

[SarzWix]

Cheers Hazel Nothing to lose really, crops have been so poor for the last couple of years No-one else on the site has any bother with thrips, they just beeline for my tall ones!

[zazen999]

Try growing them in blocks, with a cane at each corner and twine tied round at one foot intervals. Then you can surround the whole block in fleece/netting and peg it to the canes meaning they are pest free. Like a pea chimney. It's the only way to grow tall peas here because of pea moth. Grrrr.....

[Jamesy_uk]

Ack you folks are giving me nightmares now I just started off my 'Golden sweet' mange tout and they are climbers up to 6ft or so I believe

[SarzWix]

That's probably worth a go with the ones I most need to save seeds from Zaz, thank you I haven't got enough fleece to do it for all of em though.

[zazen999]

Ack you folks are giving me nightmares now I just started off my 'Golden sweet' mange tout and they are climbers up to 6ft or so I believe

4ft...I do all my peas under fleece these days.

[SarzWix]

I reckon I'll sow some tonight and some in a couple of weeks and see how they go.

[binley100]

That's probably worth a go with the ones I most need to save seeds from Zaz, thank you I haven't got enough fleece to do it for all of em though.

I bought some fleece from the pound shop and it's quite thick and probably enough to go round a pea chimbley a few times........

[veggiechicken]

I've just bought some in LITL. £2.99 for 1.5m x 10m.