[harry]

I read on here last year about planting peas in a gutter. Well i've cadged the gutter off a local double glazing man and got the peas, is it time to plant them yet and do i just fill the gutter with compost?

[arugula]

There were some photos somewhere on the fourm..... I'm sure there were..  but I can't just place them right now.

[Aunt Sally]

was this it ?

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=14730.msg186415;topicseen#msg186415

[DD.]

If you've got a sheltered spot, you can get away with sowing at the end of February. I wait until the end of March.

[arugula]

That wasn't the one I had in mind Aunty, I'm picturing an outdoor shot longways on, but this gives a good idea.

[Aunt Sally]

This one ?



The peas  growing well were raised in a gutter and the rest of the rows were filled in with seeds.

[arugula]

No but its nearer. I think there was a greenhouse in the background of a longways shot of three or four lengths of guttering lying outside, I think, beside a path.

[cheshirecheese]

I use Sarah Raven's method (which I think she got from Geoff Hamilton's 'Organic Garden Bible').  She says to use a hardy variety like 'Feltham First' or 'Early Onward'.  Fill a length of guttering with compost (nothing special - just the basic stuff).  You then sow two staggered rows of peas about 2 inches apart.  Cover the seeds with about an inch of compost and water lightly.  Depending on how warm your greenhouse is, they should be ready to transplant in four to six weeks.  However, she warns that you need two people, one at either end of the guttering, to transplant, otherwise you risk the whole lot sliding out onto the ground! 

[cheshirecheese]

Sorry - should also have said she recommends starting the process in early March to put out in April.

[Aunt Sally]

I line my gutters with clungfilm to aid sliding them out.

[DD.]

I'd need more guttering than my house and the adjoining semi have!

[VirginVegGrower]

I read on here last year about planting peas in a gutter. Well i've cadged the gutter off a local double glazing man and got the peas, is it time to plant them yet and do i just fill the gutter with compost?

Hi Harry- I am going to try this too this year. I have a book Allotment Month by Month and page 46 shows this. It's a job for February according to them until weather warms up. PM me if you want more detail. Good Luck!

[Goosegirl]

I have followed Geoff's method for a few years now and like it as I can protect them in the greenhouse until they are a reasonable height to plant out so they don't get nibbled. I slide mine out along the sides as doing it along the length tends to squash them together. I use shorter lengths of drainpipe (about 4') to suit my raised beds and also handling them, plus I can sow some more seeds in them for a later crop. You will need to water more as there isn't any decent depth to the pipes and they need to be very level so the water doesn't drain out of one end. I push each end into a plant pot and push some soil into them to help water retention.

[8doubles]

As Goosegirl  mentioned use short lengths which you can manage rather than go for a 3mtr length.
The chances of getting longer runs out in one piece are remote unless the roots are really matted together. I use the method for my mange touts, it gives them a good headstart.

[noshed]

If you can't get hold of any gutter you can use those plastic containers that plums come in in supermarkets. They're quite deep and when you turn them out you can hold the lot in one hand and use the other to guide it into the trench.