[ruth82]

I'm not having much luck with my peas  :cry: , I grew some on my window sill in paper pots, about half of them went mouldy...were they too warm?

I planted out the dozen or so that did germinate but it appears they have been eaten by something, I'm guessing a rabbit by the poo trails around!  :evil:

So basically I am back to square one so should I
1. plant them straight in the ground or in pots first?
2. use any netting or anything to disuade the rabbit from using the seedlings as lunch?
3. give up and stick to birds eye?!  :shock:

I'm a bit new to this incase you haven't guessed so would appreciate any advice.  

[DD.]

I sling mine straight in the ground & then net them. It at least keeps the larger animals off, but be prepared for one or two mice to creep in!

The warmest I'd ever start peas off is in my unheated greenhouse. It appears that a lot of people are falling foul of starting things in the warmth that are cold tolerant. These seeds will rot in the warmth & damp.

[gobs]

If you really do have a rabbit problem, it's not just your peas that will go missing. You need to erect a good fence to grow anything.

Try search as there have been a few useful threads about it in the past.

[richyrich7]

Soak 'em in paraffin 1st you could always chuck some chilli powder/cayennne pepper on them for good measure, sow them direct in the ground, water well, cover with fleece if you want to.  

[ruth82]

I'm in a mess if that's the case, I'm trying to run the allotment on a budget and don't think I can stretch to a fence.  I'll try the netting though and just keep my fingers crossed, not holding out much hope though

 :?

[zucchiniqueen]

This will only help at the start and might just line you up for more trouble later on, but while they are little I grow our peas & beans with plastic milk or drink bottle cartons around them - you just chop the bottom and the top off, bury them in the ground a bit around the plant (or pile the dirt up the sides a bit so they don't blow away) and it seems to stop them being eaten too much when they are little. They also keep snail bait around the plant and away from munching little animals that shouldn't eat it. its also very cheap! And you can poke mulch inside them to help retain water & the mulch doesn't get blown or spread around. It might let them get big enough to withstand a bit of a nibble later on...? We left ours on all year last year, didn't seem to cause any problems. Anyway, good luck!

[ruth82]

Thank you that's made me feel a lot better, I'll certainly try.  Although the plastic recycling collection was on Friday and we've just got rid of a load, d'oh! Shouldn't take too long to build up stocks though.

[flash]

I planted them straight into the soil on my allotment and as soon as plants appeared covered them with Schhh tonic bottles cut in half, with the lids off and small holes cut in the base (which becomes the top) of the bottom half. Seems to work, fingers crossed.

[zucchiniqueen]

Its amazing how quickly you can build up a sizeable stock of plastic containers - and I have found that the neighbours are happy to donate some to me rather than the recycle bin (although they do seem to think I am crazy). Good luck!

[DD.]

My peas, photo taken today, slung straight in the ground & netted.

The four rows in the foreground are Kelvedon Wonder, sown at two different times & the shorter rows in the background are mange tout. Have 'Jaguar' on the go & also 3 types of heritage peas.

I like peas, me! Would take me a while to collect enough plaggy bottles to protect them!

[Caddi fuller-teabags]

I'm in a mess if that's the case, I'm trying to run the allotment on a budget and don't think I can stretch to a fence.  I'll try the netting though and just keep my fingers crossed, not holding out much hope though

 :?

Ruth, one of the cheapest ways, if you can transport them, is to get pallets for a fence.  we have found a woodyard that lets us have them for free.  You might also ask on freecycle for fencing, but the trouble is very often the transporting.  sometimes a friendly fellow allotmenteer might even transport for you - we find that our site is full of good people!

I would also look at the  frugal living board - they have loads of ideas to make stuff cheaply (the plant pots out of newspaper is brilliant!).

Caddi

[puravida]

My peas, photo taken today, slung straight in the ground & netted.

The four rows in the foreground are Kelvedon Wonder, sown at two different times & the shorter rows in the background are mange tout. Have 'Jaguar' on the go & also 3 types of heritage peas.

I like peas, me! Would take me a while to collect enough plaggy bottles to protect them!

DD - looks fab!! Are you giving them any support at all or will they support each other as grown quite thick?

I've adopted the Munty - foot wide trough and chuck a whole packet in - approach this year and wondering if I need some support for them.

[DD.]

Notice the white twine?

There are two strings on the more mature peas. I'll add as they grow higher.

[puravida]

Oh I see - so you string the peas to the twine, then add more rounds of twine and string higher and higher as the peas grow?

Are you stringing every single plant?

[Aunt Sally]

This is how I support my peas



Picture taken today too (I love peas   )