Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: home made pie on July 15, 2009, 16:19

Title: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: home made pie on July 15, 2009, 16:19
I have just taken off all the remaining peas, really pleased with results, had approx one bucket full off 12 pea plants.  I haven't grown them before, should I pull up all the plants now ? or will some more peas appear later on ?

Thanks very much
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: DD. on July 15, 2009, 17:21
No they've done.

Don't pull them up, chop the foilage off and dig the roots in. Peas are legumes which form nodules. These taken nitrogen out of the air and convert it into a form usable for plants.
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: Paul Plots on July 15, 2009, 21:41
Same for broad beans?
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: peapod on July 15, 2009, 21:44
Same for broad beans?

Sure is, Learner
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: DD. on July 15, 2009, 21:44
And runners and........
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: Paul Plots on July 15, 2009, 21:46
And runners and........

...french beans?? !!  :)

I'm getting the hang of this   ;)
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: peapod on July 15, 2009, 21:47
Good lad!  :D
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: Beetroot queen on July 15, 2009, 21:48
One of the old boys on our site said dont just dig in the roots dig in the whole plant, is that right  :blink:
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: DD. on July 15, 2009, 21:48
Won't do any harm, but the root's the best prize.
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: Beetroot queen on July 15, 2009, 21:50
Won't do any harm, but the root's the best prize.

Thanks for that, may see how energetic I am feeling tomorrow.  :lol:
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: peapod on July 15, 2009, 21:50
One of the old boys on our site said dont just dig in the roots dig in the whole plant, is that right  :blink:

Im sure its a good idea, I was thinking about this the other day BQ.  Trouble with me is that I grow a full bed and they wouldnt rot down, so havent looked into it further.  If I had a shredder then Id leave the roots in, cut off at soil level and shred the rest of plants and add in Autumn
Anyone else know?
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: andreadon on July 16, 2009, 13:57
glad i read this one - i had planned to rip them all out!
 :ohmy:
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: Gardeningguru on July 16, 2009, 17:08
One of the old boys on our site said dont just dig in the roots dig in the whole plant, is that right  :blink:

You could, but the roots have the nodules on, which contain the readily available nitrogen. The green parts contain nitrogen, but that won't be released until they rot down, the tops are best handled much the same as other green plants really. (as far as I know).

I throw my pea plant tops into the compost, it all goes back in eventually.  Easier than digging in several long rows.
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: Christine on July 17, 2009, 09:36
I'm rather with the compost heap route for the plants as it ensures that I can use the empty space at least for a cash crop in the very near future (well if it ever stops raining a monsoon).
Title: Re: when to pull up pea plants?
Post by: Paul Plots on July 17, 2009, 20:34
I'm rather with the compost heap route for the plants as it ensures that I can use the empty space at least for a cash crop in the very near future (well if it ever stops raining a monsoon).

It has been rather wet (understatement of the year) hasn't it!!  ::)