[parttimer]

Last year my Peas (kelvdon wonder) were hammered by Pea Moth so this year I was considering covering them (early & early onward) with Enviro-Mesh. But do they rely on insects for pollination. Obviously if they do, covering them would be a really daft move.

[mumofstig]

peas are self fertilising, within the flower, so you can cover them

[parttimer]

Cheers Mum. I lost over a third of my crop last year and as i've been given a large roll of mesh, that's tomorrow nights job sorted.

[Salmo]

Pea moths lay their eggs at the base of flower buds and when the grubs hatch they burrow into the tiny pods. Once the pods are formed they are too tough for the grubs to burrow into.

Put the enviromesh over as soon as you see the first flower buds and keep it on until the pods are all formed. In practice I keep it on from then on as it also keeps the pigeons off.

[parttimer]

We do not seem to have a problem with pigeons taking the peas, well not once they get to maturity. Everything else is attacked if not protected. 

[DD.]

Don't reply on that, it used to be the case here. Then they learned that by landing on top of the plants and taking off again repeatedly, they could squash the tops of the plants down to make a landing pad.

Also they are not adverse to walking up to the plants and eating the lower hanging peas.

[Salmo]

Sitting in the sun on top of a row of peas munching is pigeon heaven.