Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: noshed on February 21, 2006, 10:40

Title: planting peas
Post by: noshed on February 21, 2006, 10:40

I'm sorry if this is obvious but when the book says "sow in a drill" do they mean sow two rows close together? On a raised bed would you have say two rows 100mm apart, then a 500mm gap and another two rows?
Thanks

Title: planting peas
Post by: John on February 21, 2006, 14:58

Hi noshed :)
You normally sow peas in two staggered rows about  100mm apart  in a shallow trench or 'drill' .
P   P   P   P   P   P   P
- P   P   P   P   P   P   P

There will be a few no shows but that should get  you plenty of plants. Your next full double row is 500mm away. I think you can get away with 499mm!

If you want to plant early, try putting a cloche over the row or start them off in some guttering in a greenhouse then slide the contents into the drill - that's a two person job, in my experience.

With deep beds you can get away with closer spacings but I tend to save the beds for things that really benefit. The humble pea is one of the oldest vegetables used by man, btw. Full of trivia, me :)

Title: planting peas
Post by: noshed on February 21, 2006, 20:50

Thanks for that - I understand now