growing peas - pea moth.

[cheops]

Last year I had quite a high percentage of pea moth maggots eating the peas inside the pods. I read that Enviromesh can be used to protect the pea plants but the more I read the more confused I am getting. Please help.
Quote
'Peas can be grown under horticultural fleece, insect-proof mesh such as Enviromesh, to prevent female moths laying eggs on the plants.'
Quote.
'Adult pea moths emerge in June-July, when the females seek out pea plants on which they lay their eggs. They are attracted to pea plants that are in flower.'


Do the pea flowers not need pollinated? If so then how can they be pollinated if the plants are protected by the mesh.?? Am I missing something somewhere?

[mothhawk]

Peas are self-fertile, so no, they don't need insects to pollinate them. The same is true of French beans, and now one or two varieties of runner bean, though most runners need to be pollinated.

[cheops]

Thank you mothhawk - that explains it. Pity the articles I was reading didn't mention what you just have,
. thanks again

[Alison]

Not only are they self fertile. Peas are normally already germinated by the time the flower opens which makes them brilliant for seed saving


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[TrialAndError]

I gave up growing dwarf peas because of pea moth, too much trouble netting them. I've discovered that climbing peas such as Alderman don't suffer the same problem. The crop is much larger as well for any given area. I recommend you give them a try. The peas are ultra tasty as well and crop over a longer period.

[snakeshack]

growing peas - pea moth.

I gave up growing dwarf peas because of pea moth, too much trouble netting them. I've discovered that climbing peas such as Alderman don't suffer the same problem. The crop is much larger as well for any given area. I recommend you give them a try. The peas are ultra tasty as well and crop over a longer period.

I agree about the climbing peas , I grow Victorian collosal climbing from Victoriana which are a reselected alderman . Climbing peas also crop over a longer period so you don't only get more peas from the same space but over a longer time.


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[Bren In Pots]

I also grow tall peas, mine are Telephone and Purple podded. I have to net them though or the pea frame gets busier that the bird table.

[TrialAndError]

"which are a reselected alderman"


Exactly what I do - Victoriana have been growing and selecting that variety for decades according to their website and they seem to have got it right. The seeds cost a little more but they are the real McCoy as far as my experience goes.

[Two_Sheds]

Last year I had quite a high percentage of pea moth maggots

same here, on all peas not just dwarf ones. Combined with early seedling damage from pea weevil, my pea crops were dismal

Last year I did it all right (sowed in modules, not direct in the soil) and netted* them when they started to flower ~ no maggots at all, and I still have peas in bottom of the freezer



* polyester or nylon net curtains, enviromesh or debris netting: something tough