Pea crop sheet

Sowing

When: February to June

It is mainly the fresh seeds (peas) that are eaten, however the immature pods are tasty in some varieties too. For this reason some peas are called 'mangetout' (eat-all). So when choosing seeds think about if you would prefer to eat big tasty peas or mangetout. 

Something else to consider when choosing your seed variety is that there are three different types of peas that all mature at different rates. These are;

• First Earlies will be ready to pick in 11-13 weeks after sowing.
• Second Earlies will be ready to pick 14 weeks after sowing.
• Maincrop peas take up to 16 weeks to mature. 

Indoors 

1. Sow first and second early peas in pots or modular trays under glass, cold frames or in a polytunnel in February and March. Sow overwintering peas undercover in autumn, (the seed packets will have more information).
2. Sow your seeds in pots or modular trays. To do this fill them with a seed or multipurpose compost. Once filled gently tap them on a table/bench to level the soil surface. 
3. Using a pencil, lolly pop stick, label, or dibber make holes to the depth of about 3cm deep in the compost. Do this in each module of the tray or three times in a 9cm pot or five to ten times in pots 13cm or larger. 
4. Now put your chosen pea seeds in the holes and gently cover them up with the compost using your fingers. You can also gently tap the pot or tray on the table/bench and the holes will fill in. Remember to label your peas and add the date you sowed them so you can work out roughly when they will be ready to eat.
5. Using either a soak up tray or watering can with a rose, to water in your pea seeds. Keep them indoors under glass, in a polytunnel or coldframe and let them grow. 

Outdoors

• Sow main crops outside until late June. Avoid sowing pea seeds into wet or cold soil, so if needed you can cover the soil with fleece or weed membrane to warm the soil before sowing. 
• Make a drill (channel) 5cm deep in the soil. Use a measuring stick or bamboo cane to keep it straight if using a trowel or you could also use a large dibber to make holes.
• Sow the seeds about 15cm apart in the soil and then cover the seeds. Firm the soil above with the back of a trowel. Water the drill using a watering can with a rose.
• Label the row and make another 50-120cm away and do the same again. This distance will depend on the size of the pea plant (the distance equal to the height of your pea plants), see your seed packet for this information. 

Growing

• Sowing your pea seeds indoors will help protect them from mice who love to eat freshly germinated peas. If you can't do this, then cover your peas with fleece or insect-proof netting until they have germinated to help deter the mice. 
• Once planted out, put in a support structure. This will help your pea plants grow upright and will give their tendrils something to grip on to. For tall pea plants you will need trellis, a growing frame or bamboo canes with string or netting to support them. For small or dwarf pea plants you can support them using pea sticks (twiggy branches) and pea netting. 
• Building a support structure with netting for your pea plants will also deter pests such as birds. With your pea plants sown on the inside of the netting it will be harder for birds to get into the structure to eat your little seedlings. Especially if you attach some bird scarers to your sturcture such as; a string of old CDs, a windmill made from a recycled bottle, a string of tinfoil discs, trays or other shiny items. It helps if they rattle or make a noise when blowing in the wind. 
• Powdery mildew can affect your pea plants and occurs when the plants dry out too much and then get wet again. Try to prevent infection by keeping the soil moist and growing peas in cooler locations (an area of dappled or partial shade with exposure to light/medium winds).  
• Keep watering peas in dry weather, especially if they are flowering. If the soil is drying very quickly you can mulch around the base of the plants to help with moisture retention in the soil.

Harvesting

When: June to October, between 11-16 weeks after sowing, depending on the variety planted.

• Pea plants grown for the peas are ready to harvest when the pods are well filled and bulky. Once the pea pods start to form keep checking and picking fully ripened ones regularly. Constantly picking pea pods as they ripen will encourage the plant to keep flowering and therefore produce more pods. Remember to pick pods at the bottom of the plant first, as these will be the first to ripen.
• Before eating or storing your harvested peas you will need to shell them. This is when you remove the outer pods, also called shells, and pop out your peas. Once you've done this wash them and enjoy!
• For mangetout and sugar snap peas, the pods are ready to pick and eat when they are about 7.5cm long and the peas inside are just starting to form. When your pods are ready to be picked they will look like a long flat pea pod with small bumps. Once your first lot of pods are ready, pick them, wash them and eat them. Keep an eye on the growing ones and continue picking them as they ripen. 
• Peas and mangetout can be stored fresh in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. Alternatively they can be frozen. 

Using

• Peas are a great treat as they can be eaten raw straight from the plant. Yum! 
• Do remember to wash your peas and pods before eating or cooking. 
• Peas are a staple addition to most meals in the UK. Some of the meals peas can be added to are; frittata, pakora, risotto, stir-fry, pasties, curry, soup, broth, quiche, stew and many more. Do you prefer the classics? Why not turn your peas into mushy peas, delicious! Alternatively steam or boil them and add mint and butter for a tasty side dish.