Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Adam on July 27, 2009, 21:48
-
I've been very busy this evening shelling peas, but was rather surprised to find several pods had been invaded by little white maggots. On close inspection the pods seemed to have tiny little holes in the side near where the maggots were, and they had worked their way into the nearest peas. The other peas in the pod were fine, and I would say only 1 in 10 pods were affected.
Not much of a disaster, but I've never seen this before. Is it something I should be fretting about?
What are they, and how can I avoid their company next year?
-
It's pea moth caterpillar
Have a look at the RHS (http://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profiles0708/pea-moth.asp) page on this pest
-
Yes, that's them Yorkie. Thanks.
-
the infection rate on my peas was high. that and the time spent shelling and the amount of peas I got I think I will not bother with them next year. I found that they are only sweet when collected at the right time. a little early or a litle late and that sweetness isn't there. might grow the mangetout peas again next year. the older\experienced guys on the site don't grow the. when asked why not they said that you can get a whole bag for a quid.
the amound of peas one gets for the space the plants take and the shade they cast means they arn't worth the trouble.
-
what are the type of pea plants that grow up a 8ft cane? some one on the site is growing them.
-
we got a few pea maggots the same as Adam, not many affected. It's true, for the yield you don't get many peas per sq foot. We might not bother again. I didn't know the time of harvest affected the sweetness! I'll pick the next ones at night.
-
we did early peas and missed the pea maggots I was realloy pleased with our harvest and will definately be doing them next year :)
-
SMD66, sweetness is not affected by the time of the day you collect them. you need to collect them when they are just right. a few days early and they are not ready and not sweet. a few days late and the sweetness is gone. DD the pea man will shed more light on this, I hope :)
-
what are the type of pea plants that grow up a 8ft cane? some one on the site is growing them.
Alderman.
-
thank u. are they a victorian type?
-
Pea moths do not appear until mid June so early peas that have flowered by then are not usually affected.
The pea moth lays its eggs at the base of flowers just before they open. The maggot burrows into the tiny pod as it starts to form.
Cover the peas with enviromesh just before the first flower buds open and keep it there until all the flowers have finished. It works.
Nothing tastes as good as peas fresh from the garden!
-
yes they are lovely when u get sweet ones. but worth the trouble? emmmm. not for me :nowink:.
-
thank u. are they a victorian type?
try
http://www.kingsseeds.co.nz/shop/Vegetables/Alpha+Search+for+Vegetables/Veges+P+&+Q/Pea+Alderman+Tall+Climbing.html
-
the site says " hundreds of dark green pods.". is this true?
-
Depends how many you plant!
That site is a New Zealand one, there is one in the UK, but I doubt you'll beat these for value.....
http://www.molesseeds.co.uk/acatalog/Products_Alderman_4434.html
-
ok, thanks karooba, mine get picked when I need peas!
-
As I've been picking mine, I've found about 1 in may be 20 to 30 pods affected, so not to much waste. I have had a good crop this year. Infact a really good crop, and thats just from your normal Lincon Pea.
-
I found that about 2% of my harvest had been nibbled by these little blighters too this year. first time I've ever seen them, but then in previous years I haven't grown as many peas as I did this year.
-
I too may not be bothering with peas next year as the yield is so low. I have got some Alderman to try but that will be their last chance to impress me. I wonder how Bird's Eye do it? Will grow more mange tout as there is no waste.
-
Big fields of close spaced, self supporting, low growing F1 hybrids, harvested mechanically when they all mature together.
I'm going the other way to you & hope to be self-sufficient seed wise to only grow heritage varieties and to start increasing the numbers of the old types that I've got.
-
i found a few in my mange tout. i must have eaten loads of them before i realised :ohmy:
definately not growing them again!
-
Of all the peas Ive grown (no netting at all) I found one maggot - so im a happy bunny
But powdery mildew always gets me despite my optimism! Hopefully it'll leave me alone this year