Pea

1. 1

   Sow direct or in modules

   March to July outdoors; February to early March in modules under glass. Indoors gives an earlier crop and dodges pigeons. 2 cm deep, 5 cm apart in double rows 25 cm apart. Successional sowings every 3 weeks keep peas coming through summer.

2. 2

   Build the support before sowing

   Pea sticks (twiggy hazel or birch), netting on canes, or a wigwam. Most modern shelling peas reach 60–90 cm; mangetout and tall varieties reach 1.5–2 m. Put supports in at sowing time, not afterwards.

3. 3

   Protect from pigeons

   Net the row from sowing until plants are 30 cm tall. Pigeons strip pea seedlings in a single visit. Use bird netting on hoops, not fine fleece (the tendrils tangle in fine mesh).

4. 4

   Water at flowering and pod-fill

   Peas are reasonably drought-tolerant before flowering but thirsty once flowers and pods are developing. Water deeply twice a week from flowering onwards. Drought at flowering reduces pod count.

5. 5

   Mulch heavily

   Once plants are 15 cm tall, mulch with grass clippings or straw 5 cm thick. Holds moisture, suppresses weeds, keeps the roots cool.

6. 6

   Watch for pea moth

   Cydia nigricana lays eggs on flowers from June. Larvae develop inside maturing pods. Net the row with fine enviromesh during flowering (June for spring-sown, August for later sowings) to exclude the moth. Or accept some maggoty pods; only the earliest crops are heavily affected.

7. 7

   Pick young and often

   Pick when pods are full but the peas inside are still bright green and tender. Mangetout pick when the pods are 5 cm and the peas inside are barely formed. Sugar snap when pods are full and crisp. Pick every 2–3 days during the peak; standing pods on the plant slows further flowering.

Pea moth, pea aphid, and birds are the main threats; net early sowings.