OwnGrown

Now picking peas and have been for about a week. We tend to have a glut during the short season so these can also be frozen if there are too many.

They take a while to get going but we are nearly there and growth is rapid now. it is essential that these are supported well. High winds will flatten them otherwise. In the past I have always allowed them to grow without interference but this year will try pinching out the main stem at about this stage and gradually shortening the laterals on some of the plants. The crop when the plants are eventually allowed to flower is apparantly much greater.

Peas Onward were sown earlier than last year in mid March. Sown 5 cms (2″)apart in drills 5 cms (2″) deep, 10 cms (4″) wide with 60 cms (2′) between rows. They need some form of netting support 1.2m (4′) high. Cropping July onwards. Another batch will be sown in about 6 weeks at the end of April to give an extended period of use. Mice may be a problem soon after sowing - see the section on mice in the Pests page.

Final pick of Broad Beans and Peas at end of July when all plants were pulled up and put on compost heap. They are over sooner than usual this year and the total yield appears to have been lower due probably to the very hot summer.  

Started picking Peas Onward early July. These have plenty of flavour and are picked when they are a reasonable size.

Mange Tout (dwarf) are in the foreground with Peas Onward in the middle (and Broad Beans at the back).

Peas Onward were sown early April and Mange Tout about three weeks later. Sown 5 cms (2″)apart in drills 5 cms (2″) deep, 10 cms (4″) wide with 60 cms (2′) between rows. They need some form of netting support 1.2m (4′) high. Cropping July onwards. Picture shows seeds sown in compost filled flat-bottomed drills which will now be filled to leave the seeds at the required depth.