We don't skimp on peas seeds when we are sowing. Some would say that we go overboard and sow too thickly but as I mentioned in an earlier post, this works for us and we are now being rewarded with 'bushy' rows of young pea seedlings.
As well as sowing 'ordinary' garden peas we have also sown a row of Delikata - mangetouts and a row of Oregon Sugar Pod - sugar snap peas. Both have now pushed through so I am hoping that the weevils confine themselves to nibbling the broad beans that can withstand their attentions.
We have also now managed to plant out our sweet peas - getting drenched in the process. Having set our sights on getting them planted we were not going to let the rain deter us. We delayed starting when the rain was at its heaviest and sheltered in the shed with a cup of coffee but as the rain eased we decided just to go for it.
To save space in the greenhouse the seeds were sown two or three to a module cell and each cell treated as one plant. For some reason we couldn't fit all the plants into the usual area and so had to create a second sweet pea area in what will become our annual flower bed. Honestly I ordered the same number of seed packets so either the packets contained more seed this year or germination was better.
Hazel twigs will be pushed along the rows to support the plants soon. We also need to allocate another bed to another sowing of peas.
When we left the sweet peas looked a bit bedraggled having been subjected to a downpour - however, you should have seen the state we were in. It called for immediate showers and gardening clothes being dried out when we arrived back home!
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Such dedication! I hope the peas & sweet peas give you a good reward for your labours. My peas have flowers on them now, so I'm hoping for a harvest within a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteGood luck - I hope that we both end up with a great harvest,
DeleteI think I should take a page from your book and sow peas more thickly. Mine could certainly be grown thicker.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to work for us, Alain,
DeleteI've given up on peas. Something keeps eating the leaves which develop thin white lines inside. You should have a great crop, weather permitting!
ReplyDeleteSound like leaf miner making the white lines, Deborah.
DeleteLooking forward to seeing the Sweet Peas! I sowed my first batch this year---but there is no sign of them yet.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing them too, Sue.
DeleteHave enjoyed growing peas in the past, must say more got eaten fresh before they made it to the table.
ReplyDeleteAmanda xx
We eat lots of them raw in salads, Amanda.
DeleteI remember your pea crop last year, Sue. Really you sowed a lot of it and the sweet peas will give nice bouquets in vases.
ReplyDeleteWe need to sow another lot of seeds, Nadezda
DeleteUs gardeners are a determined bunch - I think everyone has been out in the rain doing an overdue task at one point or another.
ReplyDeleteWe were getting wet again yesterday, Margaret :-(
DeleteWell done on pushing on through the rain. At least you didn't need to water them in too much! There was a torrential downpour here on Sunday, I'm not sure what the damage will be down at the plot but I fear the worst. My sweet peas aren't out yet though, I forgot to take them with me last time I went. You can never have too many peas can you. My Sugar Anns are flowering at the moment - I use those as sugar snaps, and I've sown another batch. I need to try and keep up with the successional sowing this year, I usually grind to a halt.
ReplyDeleteWe still need to sow more peas too CJ
DeleteThat's a good idea to use seedling tray on growing pea. Thanks for sharing. I think it's better for me to reduce the risk snail attack when we apply direct sowing.
ReplyDeleteWe only use the modules for the sweet pea flowers, Endah but it would work for the edible peas too.
DeleteOh your peas are flourishing Sue. Do you have any problems with mice etc. nibbling emerging seedlings? I planted one lot of sweet peas yesterday and the other last week. Looking forward now to that first bunch.
ReplyDeleteWe don"t seem to have a mouse problem , Anna.
DeleteHmm, seeing your lovely thick rows of peas makes my ~20 plants spread between 2 wigwams look extremely puney!!
ReplyDeleteWe like to hedge our bets with peas, Belinda
DeleteI Got caught out in a downpour at the plot on Sunday Sue so I sympathize. I have only just got my peas in...I'm not worried though.,..they will just be a little later than usual...it always works out in the end. It's great that you have done so well with your sweet peas!!
ReplyDeleteWe sill have more peas to sow, Tanya. We still have some potatoes to plant too.
DeleteThat's a lot of peas! Soon you will have a lot of peas to harvest! That sound so good! ;)
ReplyDeleteI hope so, Malar.
DeleteToo many sweet peas - what a lovely problem to have :-}
ReplyDeleteOne thing they won't be short of is water, Jayne.
DeleteOh gosh, you have my sympathy! I can just imagine how bedraggled you both were. Lovely to have too many sweet peas! Good to see your peas coming through, the slugs are taking one in five of mine!xxx
ReplyDeleteWhen we actually get to the plot again, they may have had ours, Dina.
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