Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: sloegin on July 15, 2010, 10:00

Title: Easy PEAsy
Post by: sloegin on July 15, 2010, 10:00
Hi heard that peas are hard to grow - so what's an easy (see what i did there :D!) bean to grow.... thinking of having a stab at borlotti beans. What equipment do i need? - Trellis, canes?
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: DD. on July 15, 2010, 10:01
Peas are not hard!

Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: sloegin on July 15, 2010, 10:07
Ok DD i suppose nothings hard until i try! Tell me more...?
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: DD. on July 15, 2010, 10:13
Make a trench 2" deep with a draw hoe.

Throw peas in.

Cover with soil.

Net against mice/birds.

When germinated start supporting.

Wait.

Pick.

Eat.

Maybe take some home.
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: Livinhope on July 15, 2010, 10:26
First lot just finished, second just coming in, third row in bud, fourth row went in yesterday.  As DD says net against birds and mice.  We start ours off under cheap corrugated plastic made into a cloche, gives them a kick and protects them, then stick and net against the pigeons.  Sorted...... :D
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: greenhead on July 15, 2010, 10:56
Having seen DD's pics  we have grown 2 - 30' rows this year of Early Onward and Claverdon Wonder, planting the second row 6 weeks after the first.  We are now harvesting the first row however about 1 in 10 pods have a small grub at the flower end - is this normal or should we have sprayed (what?)

Is it too late to plant a third row and what variety for late sowing?

Thanks for any tips.
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: DD. on July 15, 2010, 11:02
The small grub is the larva of the pea moth and that is one of the set backs of later sowing. Earlier ones will miss these.

The precautions are to spray at flowering time, or to fleece the crop.

If sowing now, chose an early variety like the two you've already sown. (It's Kelvedon Wonder, by the way).
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: greenhead on July 15, 2010, 11:31
Thanks DD - What does a pea moth look like, do you have any pics.
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: DD. on July 15, 2010, 12:09
Here's a link to a piccie:

Pea Moth (http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1257)

It's one of those things you never see or notice, like carrot fly, but the evidence of their visit is very apparant!
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: sloegin on July 15, 2010, 12:57
Thanks so much, will give it a go!
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: Mr B on July 15, 2010, 14:00
Hi DD,
  Yo mention fleece, could you use debrie netting or do the peas need the bees etc to pollinate them? My Alderman crop have been almost desimated by these little sods.
Chris
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: DD. on July 15, 2010, 14:12
Enviromesh or debris netting should keep them out. Their winspan is 12-16 mm, but I'm not sure how big they are with wings tucked in!

Peas do not need insects to pollinate, they have an enclosed flower & self-pollinate.
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: Livinhope on July 15, 2010, 15:08
Oh! the sex life of plants ::)
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: boosh on July 15, 2010, 16:47
Make a trench 2" deep with a draw hoe.

Throw peas in.

Cover with soil.

Net against mice/birds.

When germinated start supporting.

Wait.

Pick.

Eat.

Maybe take some home.
If only all the advice you ask for, was answerd as straight forward as DD has.
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: gypsy on July 15, 2010, 17:31
Here's a link to a piccie:

Pea Moth (http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1257)

It's one of those things you never see or notice, like carrot fly, but the evidence of their visit is very apparant!
Oh thank goodness I pulled all my pea plants out 2 days ago, I saw one of those little monsters when I was tidying the pea bed up yesterday, I was very cruel to it.
Now I know who it was I do not feel bad about exterminating it.
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: sloegin on July 15, 2010, 17:37
I know Boosh ;) All advice is welcome. I absolutely love this site i've learnt so much in the space of days!
Oh one thing how do you quote someone elses message?
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: Livinhope on July 15, 2010, 17:43
Left hand side of the post at the top there is a little green box, says, quote, click on that.
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: Yorkie on July 15, 2010, 17:44
Left hand side of the post at the top there is a little green box, says, quote, click on that.

(Right hand side of the post, sorry Livinhope)

And make sure that you type your answer after the [ / quote] - or it will appear inside the quote and nobody will read it  :(  :)
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: Livinhope on July 15, 2010, 17:47
Okay so now you've discovered that I can't tell my right from my left.  It was a b****r when I was learning to drive, but it is a real problem. ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: sloegin on July 15, 2010, 17:51
Okay so now you've discovered that I can't tell my right from my left.  It was a b****r when I was learning to drive, but it is a real problem. ??? ??? ???
Never Worry think i got it
Testing Testing!!
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: Yorkie on July 15, 2010, 18:13
Sorry Livinhope, would you prefer me to edit my post, didn't mean to touch a nerve  :(
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: Livinhope on July 15, 2010, 21:21
Ye gods.  I'm not that touchy, it's quite a joke and has been for years.  Directions are given to me physically in that people demonstrate and explain which side I'm supposed to be concentrating on.  People get told 'don't tell her it's left or right you'll have to show her.
Title: Re: Easy PEAsy
Post by: Yorkie on July 15, 2010, 21:49
Phew  :D