Peas

Peas can seem to be a lot of work, taking up a lot of space and often, after spending ages picking and podding them, only seem a small crop for the effort you have put into them. But when you have picked them at the right time and cooked them correctly, you soon realise that it was all worthwhile when you taste those fresh young garden peas.

To grow good Peas the soil needs to be of good structure with plenty of organic matter and a pH of 6.5. It does not need to be too fertile as Peas are Legumes and take Nitrogen in out of the atmosphere. Too much Nitrogen fertiliser will lead to very leafy foliage and very few pods.

The earliest Pea Varieties such as Early Onward can be sown in autumn and over-wintered but in very cold winters you may be taking a bit of a chance and only get a very small crop from them.

Start sowing from February, under cloches if necessary, in shallow trenches about 6" wide and 2" deep. Scatter the seed evenly so that there is roughly 2" between seeds, in the trench and fill by raking soil over the seed.

Sow at fortnightly intervals to give a succession of cropping.

It is advisable to protect the seeds and seedlings with netting or mesh to prevent bird damage.

As the plants grow they will need supporting. This is traditionally done using pea sticks - short twiggy branches, but more modern methods are string or mesh supported by canes or stakes.

Birds, mice, Slugs, Mildew, Pea Moths and Bean Weevils can affect peas. (See relevant Pests or Diseases sections)

© copyright 1999, P. A. Owen