| My allotment in Liverpool |
| PEAS |
| Peas are the classic vegetable that tastes better the fresher they are and were the first to be marketed frozen. The traditional growing area in the UK is Linconshire where large flat fertile fields produce excellent crops which are easy to pick using vast pea vining machines. The peas are shelled and frozen on site to ensure freshness. The varieties used are not the same as the gardeners type as they produce pods that mature at the same time (see below).. |
| SOWING IN MODULES I sowed peas "Meteor" in modular trays on the 7th December 2006 and the above photo taken on 13th January 2007 shows 26 out of 40 have germinated (66%). They were sowed and put in a plastic covered frame, sitting on a polystyrene base to keep them off the soil. My theory was that it would retain heat better. |
| MISTAKE When peas are ready they are ready and only a few days delay in picking them leads to large tasteless ones and a slow-down in further flowering. Next year I will make sure that a friend will pick any peas that are ready when I am on holiday, and water them if necessary. |
| PLANTING OUT On the 1st February 2007 I planted them out as above in the adjacent frame, an individual plant is shown above. Just to be on the safe side I scattered a few slug pellets around and the next day there were several dead slugs to clear away: a wise precaution! |
| SUCCESS Peas are extremely easy to grow and the freshly pull pods contain the sweetest you will ever taste. When my wife and daughter helped me pull them one day, more than half the crop never made it home as they ate them while pulling them!. |
| There are further differences between commercial crops and gardeners ones, the main one being staking. Garden varieties usually require staking to keep the plants off the ground where slugs, snails, and pests are a menace especially when the plant has to grow for a longer period. Some varieties even grow to over 6 feet high and require special netting or similar rather than a few twigs shoved in the ground. Another difference is the maturation of the pods. Commercial requirements dictate that all the pods mature simultaneously to make harvesting simple. The whole plant is picked up and stripped by the vining machine. which is no good for the successsion of pods required for the kitchen. |
| SOWING INTO THE GROUND One of my resolutions is to grow more crops in succession and to that end on 19th February I planted 2 further rows directly into the ground. This deep bed was dug and manured with horse manure in September and the lage number of worms seen is teastment to the warmyh of the frame and the richness of the soil. |
| 2006 was a qualified success, being the first year of my allotment, the soil was not manured first and a two week holiday in July coincided with hot dry weather and the maturation of the crop. Needless to say on my return the plants did not exude health, being somewat dry looking with many matured pods, which because they had not been pulled had signalled to the plant that its reproductive job was done and further flowering was not necessary.Peas do not like their shallow roots disturbing and weeding should be avoided if possible. The photo above shows a mulch of wood shavings from the local police horse stable. It is not ideal, as it was not fully rotted, but as it was my first year it was convenient as it is delivered regularly to the allotment site. |
| STAKING On 19th February they required staking and as I intended to keep the top on the frame, just pushed short twigs in as a temporary measure. All the plants had survived and there appeared to be no damage from pests or disease. The photo above was taken 12 days later |
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| MAKE USE OF THE SPACE I planted two rows in the classic way of making two small trenches 2 inches deep, one is shown above. To insure against poor germination I sowed them close together, they were after all two year old seeds and it was still winter. I pushed a few small twigs in on transplanting to give them support |
| WRONG! My assumption that there would be poor germination was wrong. The peas all germinated and by the 6th March were pushing their way up. The maximum outside temperature in that time was 12.8 and the minimum 3.8. Mild for the time of the year. |
| Grow your own Peas without tears |
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| OVER THE TOP This fancy arrangement shows the early peas on 11th March with larger stakes in position. The removable net cover is to keep the pidgeons off. Growing vegetables is a constant battle with others wanting to share the fruits of your labour. The adjoining box shows the broad beans. Peas and beans are both legumes and in about two months time, after croppping, this bed will be used for a different crop. 22nd April 2007 on the left, flowering. |
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| 4th May Not many but very early and tasty. Grown in my squash houses, sowing in November 2008. See my butternut squash page. |
| How to grow Peas in pictures |
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| 2006 |
| 2007 |
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| I was given some seeds of a tall variety called ALDERMAN in 2007 and decided to try them in one of my borders I was delighted with the results, the peas being heavy yielding and tasty. Growth is very lush and while they do cling with their tendrils, it is necessary to tie them in as well. Mine grew 7 feet high on canes that I threaded between the crosswires of my border posts, they would have gone higher if support had been there! |
| 2008 |
| QUICK LINKS |
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| 2009 |
| See my allotment in Summer 2008 on YouTube |