[aubergine]

Hi DD

I have some questions for you (I apologise in advance as they are coming from a novice pea grower).

My first crop of peas were great - harvested about three weeks ago.  The second crop I am harvesting now I have noticed I have an infestation of some sort.  When I open the pods some of the peas have wee besties (yuk).  They are like tiny maggots.  They are affecting about 10 percent of the pods and about 1 or 2 peas in that pod.

The harvest is still good but it is making shelling the peas a rather unpleasant experience.

I planted the same varieties and did the same things for both crops.  They were not netted.  I am wondering what might have affected the peas - there is not always evidence on the outside of an infestation.

I was wondering if you have any idea what this is?  Given you are the 'pea god' would you know what I can do to avoid it and will it have implications for next years' crop?

Regards

Aubergine

[Martin]

Sounds like pea moth. See here.

[aubergine]

Thanks Martin,that looks just what I have
Aubergine

[DD.]

Sorry - was enjoying some beauty sleep at the time of posting. I really need it!

Think the link says it all, I sow all my peas quite early, rather than in sucessions to avoid the worst of them and I also give them a light spraying about a week after the flowers start to appear.

I've just cleared 3 x 26' rows of Kelvedon Wonder and lost about 6 peas.

[Salmo]

Early peas that flower before mid June are not usually affected as the pea moth is not about until then. i.e. As DD says, sow early.

The moth lays its eggs at the base of flower buds and the maggots burrow into the young pods and eat the peas as they form.

If you want to use pesticides they should be applied about a week after the first flowers open. (DD what do you use?) Once the maggots are inside the pods insecticides do not kill them. It is difficult to get the timing of the spraying right as the flowering may spread over a fortnight.

Covering with enviromesh as soon as the first buds are seen is effective if you only grow a small amount of peas. It will ride on top of the crop with no more than the normal supports for the peas. It can be removed once flowering has finished and the pods are formed. It will do no harm to leave it on and keeps pigeons off. It is a bit fiddly taking it on and off to pick.

[DD.]

I use "Bug Clear" and have too many to cover with enviromesh (about 200 feet!).

[aubergine]

Thanks all
Aubergine