[hogwarden]

  I `ve always grown a bit but time and space have now allowed me to be a bit more `on the case` veg. wise.
Early peas -sown in the ground. The packet Kelvedon Wonder says from March but i suspect it`s too cold yet? One book says to pre-warm the soil by covering with cloches for a week or so?? When to sow then is the Q-do i leave the cloches over the sown seed?-will the plants be OK if/when they pop up if an overnight frost occurs or do you have to protect them or are the earlies frost hardy by design?

Advice sought please-thanks

[Lupin lurcher]

Hi Hogwarden, this is my first year as well, I am going to grow pea pronvence they only grow 3ft and says on packet they need no support.  So not knowing much about it myself I can`t give you advice.  But I expect someone on here will come along soon that knows all about them.  Best of luck with them.

[maxie]

A light frost wont bother them much.But i wouldnt put them in till april.
I know the seed packets say some varieties dont need support but i would always try and give them something to grow up,they are much happier.

[goodegg]

hi i would cover for a week then plant if soil has warmed up but leave cloches on untill all chance of frost has past ,they will take a week to 10 days to germinate so that will be close to april anyway so will be getting closer to end of frosty weather

[davethespread]

DD always says read the packet

[Aunt Sally]

DD always says read the packet

... but keep your location in mind.

[davethespread]

sorry aunty just a little leg pull

[Aunt Sally]

Is he too short then 

[davethespread]

never

[lacewing]

DD always says read the packet

DD is the expert on peas, he dos'nt seem to be around at the moment, but I expect he'll be back soon.

[Aunt Sally]

He certainly loves his peas.  I think he grows more than Mr Birdseye 

[peapod]

Earlies are still susceptible to the cold soil, and can still rot if sat in the wet. They are called earlies because they mature earlier than normal maincrop peas - not because we necessarily can sow them earlier (though some say Feb I would never sow that early outside)

I would cloche until the plants are no longer at risk from frost

[mumofstig]

I sowed mine in mid march last year then covered with fleece, I left the fleece in place until they were a few inches tall and then removed it, otherwise you'd have to leave it on till mid May :ohmy:they were ok through the occasional late frost
This year is colder than last year so I will leave it few weeks later, but will then use the same method.