[MoreWhisky]

Thankyou  i didnt know that dude.

[tam]

My peas (started in paper pots) went out the start of March and are now flowering (Feltham First). I'm just planting out my mange touts (Carouby de Maussane); they are under bottles to keep the slugs off rather than because of the weather. One I did early is outside uncovered in a pot and just about to flower, I can't wait to see as it should be a lovely purple

[SnooziSuzi]

mine were sown straight in the ground this year a-la DD style and are coming up champion!

One of the old fellas on the plot noticed my peas last year and sagely spouted that "us [sic] don't grow peas any more; haven't for years. The kids just come along and steal them"  but guess what he has in the ground this year 

[Ice]

Ah, so the weak shall inherit the earth.  Now, after 50 years, Sunday school is making sense.

[DD.]

And blessed are the cheesmakers!

The debris netting, by way was obviously used to cover the peas, I used stakes that after being knocked in were just 6" above the ground.

Netting was draped over the top and the edges well pegged down.

Seems to have kept everything out, there is no discernable mice damage, which I have noticed in previous years with lighter netting, this stuff is nice & heavy & lays itself quite firmly on the ground, only needs pegging in case of very high winds.

[crowndale]

The mice last year ate probably half the peas I sowed direct, mind you I didn't cover them, and haven't this year either.  figured an extra packet of peas is cheaper than buying the netting!  Nothing touched the ones I pregrew though and to be honest the pre grown ones were better plants and produced better peas but it is too much hassle to grow the whole lot in root trainers and then plant out.  so muc quicker to throw some seed down!  hoping it'll be more productive this year.  Must remember to go back and put up some string though.

[Carol]

Mine were planted in the autumn and they are in flower!
Carol.

[beestie-crawlies]

Got to get my first lot of peas and broads in sometime this week.

Broads grown in paper pots doing really well. Peas grown in 2 seed trays, might have a job here, separating into strips to plant out.

Gowing to start another lot straight in the ground. More digging and weed clearance first though.

[diggerjoe]

planted out two rows broad beans and a row of golden mangetout will sow direct two more rows peas but I will dip mine in Olbas oil before planting - I hate the smell and reckon the mice will unless they have colds I will see if this works.

[cudders]

My Broad beans were planted out about 3 weeks ago and the first few flowers and showing 

I have peas that I have grow in trays that really need to go in.. Rest will be sown direct..Mice got half last year so thought I'd grow some on this time..

Will be using debris netting just in case.

Cudders

[little sweetpeas]

Blimey - all this messing about.

Straight in the soil, 10 days to germinate. Very few losses.

I took your advice from several months back and sowed direct. I'm so pleasedm as I now have 6 x 12ft rows of peas all poking through the soil. I don't think I've lost many as the rows look complete. I covered the rows with fleece in a hope that it might stop mice etc from stealing them.

Thanks DD

[little sweetpeas]

Also can I save some peas to dry for sowing next year? The bulk of the peas I've sown are Kelvedon Wonder

[DD.]

No reason why not, although I don't bother for "stock" peas as these are only £3.99 a kilo from our local nursery.

It is, however, what I've done with my Heritage peas.

[green fingers]

mine are still growing in the cold frame! Intend to plant out end of April, early May.  They always seem to catch up with everyone elses

[Janeymiddlewife]

I've got some mangetoute in loo rolls about 1 week old & growing fast - now I just have to clear the ground to put them in 
Reading the posts it looks as though I need to cover them initially with fleece or debris to keep the mice off,
then support them with twigs or string between posts?

Are the dreaded pigeons partial to them, so do i need to keep them covered up?
Was hoping to plant some out as root trained for an earlier crop, then direct sow some further along the row - probably only got room for 2 six foot rows now MIL's pear tree is taking up the room