Topic: worms in peas - prevention

[shedifice]

Dear all,

I have worms in me peas, not a bad thing but annoying. Its just a matter of carefull selection when shelling the little beauties.

Problem is I have a few in me Mangytout. Now the wife can just about cope with eating peas that cohabited but were not home to a worm.

Problem is since I admitted there were a few in the mangytout she wont eat the said mangytout.

What can I do next year to stop my mangytout being kindergarten to wormies?

Cheers

L.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Don't grow mangetout but I've always had moths in the peas. I just say nothing about the extra protein, and so far I've always got away with it.

[jennym]

Sow very early(Aprilish), or sow very late (July)  Timing is important - but if you use fine gauge enviromesh or fleece, you should be able to stop the pea moth getting to the plants in the first place, then it doesn't matter when you sow.

[prink13]

Alternatively leave the mange tout, I did this by mistake, and now have mange centres!

The peas were very nice and tasty, just through the pods onto the compost

[Mrs Ava]

I believe you can dust with derris or some such, but wouldn't want to personally as the kids like to eat the peas straight from the pod.....wormies and all I suspect as they don't check.  Tis okay when they are little and no messes...sometimes it is obvious as they are messy inside.  My early onwards that were started at the start of the year in the greenhouse in paper pots didn't have a single wiggler, the kelvedon wonder did.  My aldermans which are now smothered in pods probably will to, but the later ones that have jsut germinated should be fine.

[shedifice]

Many thanks for the replies, I will try an early and late sowing next year I think.

Yours

L.

[bennettsleg]

but how do they get in there? Obviously they are laid as eggs, but I couldn't see any holes in the pea pod? ???

[jennym]

The pea moth goes for the flowers, so I expect it lays its eggs before the pods have formed.

[saddad]

They do go in when in flower, but you sometimes see small exit holes at the flower end!
 ;D

[RSJK]

I think you will find that they are maggots not worms, and they do come from the pea moth. Must admit if I see any after I have shelled a load for the freezer I keep my mouth shut and freeze the little bu**ers, if that does not kill them the cooking will. Extra protein
                       ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

They're neither maggots nor worms, but caterpillars, even if they do look like maggots. Not that it makes any difference, they're still just as loathsome.

[jennym]

All these things are larvae of insects except worms, which are, well, just worms.