Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Looby Loo on June 23, 2006, 21:28:29

Title: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Looby Loo on June 23, 2006, 21:28:29: Last year I grew regular and sugar snap peas. I think I planted about 4 rows in total and only had about a dozen plants with not much sucess. This year I planted at least 50 sugar snap pea seeds but have only got 14 little plants. Everyone else on my site seems to have lovely lush peas. Where am I going wrong?
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 23, 2006, 21:30:41: When did you plant them? they don't like germinating in cold weather, so I started mine under cloches, and they did really well. Alternatively, it could have been birds or mice eating the seed.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Looby Loo on June 23, 2006, 21:35:00: I planted them about 4 or 5 weeks ago. Hasn't been too cold down here since then.

Thanks
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 23, 2006, 22:03:49: We can eliminate that one then. What about pests? Or have you planted it in a spot which might be unsuitable somehow?
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Mrs Ava on June 23, 2006, 22:09:41: I lost an entire row to either Mr Vole or Mrs Mouse a few weeks ago, and they were under close netting! A chap on our site soaks his pea seeds in parafin for an hour or so before sowing to taint them, the meeces leave them well alone then.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Little Bean on June 23, 2006, 22:33:10: I had a pathetic 6 plants from 2 rows sown on my plot so I can sympathise. I can't offer any advice but I would like to know if there are any late varieties of peas I can sow now.

I have done some Internet research but without much luck. There are a lot of Google entries to plough through.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Mrs Ava on June 23, 2006, 22:37:57: Yes, you can sow now. I have just ordered some from Marshalls, but I can't remember their name! I shall look and come back!

Back! On the Marshalls website, go to autumn harvesting veggies and on page 3 I think, there are several different pea varieties. http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/rkMain.asp?PAGEID=20658

I ordered fortune I think. ;D
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Little Bean on June 23, 2006, 23:03:28: Brilliant, thanks for your quick reply Emma-Jane, I'm going to place an order now.

Hubby will be happy, he loves fresh peas ;D
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Mrs Ava on June 23, 2006, 23:07:04: (http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a364/Mrsava/peas_broadbeans_frenchbeans.jpg)

So do we! Am hoping with a little protection and good luck, we will have fresh peas with our Christmas dinner!
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: supersprout on June 24, 2006, 05:49:32: :o Emma-Jane ;D may I pop over with my trug please? :P

Looby, do you soak or sprout your peas before sowing? ::)
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Emagggie on June 24, 2006, 07:58:18: Quote
Looby, do you soak or sprout your peas before sowing?
Is that what to do? ::) I'm learning fast here. Similar problem with 2 sowings and minimal plants here. (But you should see my artistic arrangement for supports of existing plants ;D)
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: tim on June 24, 2006, 08:26:58: How NOT to plant peas?
These were just sprouting in a tray for use as pea-sprouts. We had too many, so I sliced the roots into 4 thin strips & laid them in a shallow 'trench'. But we're getting peas!

What broadies are those, Emma? Like the colour.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Looby Loo on June 24, 2006, 12:42:52: Supersprout

I don't soak or sprout them at all. Should I be doing this then?

What exactly do I need to do?

Thanks

Loo
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: supersprout on June 24, 2006, 14:40:02: Hi looby, I got lousy peas :-[ until a) I sprouted them (just) between two flannels first and b) sowed them thickly enough! Jennym recommended sowing thickly in a seed tray til they are small sprouts then strewing them in the normal way, and tim seems to have taken it a step further ;D
adrianhumph's instructions on the wiki, from this thread: http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,17821.0
There's never a 'should' with gardening ;) but the sprouting seems to help them get a grip.
And protection until they are big.
And putting the pea support in when you sow.
Still time to experiment this year?
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Looby Loo on June 24, 2006, 17:33:19: Excellent. Thanks Supersprout. I will get sprouting straight away.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: mc55 on June 24, 2006, 23:28:50: my peas and sugarsnaps have been decimated. 20 didn't even make it out of the potting shed before they were snaffled (my little vole family maybe). Decided to direct sow into a bed, about half made it and since then they've nearly all been 'pecked' clean.

Some very plump pigeons spotted trying to take off from my plot >:( >:(
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: tim on June 25, 2006, 10:59:22: Fine & dandy, Sprouty, but don't do it my way - far too closely sown!!

Just hoping we get something for nothing.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Mrs Ava on June 25, 2006, 22:35:32: They are something like Red Epicure Tim. I will dig out the packet and post name and company. I bought them cheapcheap in Devon last Autumn. It was the last chance for Broadies for me as the previous years crops were ruined by mive/voles/jays. This year thanks to lots of netting and me picking them younger, I have 2 big bag fulls in the freezer already! ;D
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Looby Loo on July 08, 2006, 11:26:56: Thanks for all the advice everyone. I soaked my peas and then sprouted them. I now have a lovely healthy row of peas coming through.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: supersprout on July 08, 2006, 12:12:37: Result! ;D
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: OliveOil on July 08, 2006, 23:19:09: I sowed 16 yellow beans from lidls and and 15 came up... so pleased with those... will plant loads more now... as the carrots and lisbon onions didnt come up.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: bennettsleg on July 09, 2006, 10:02:22: I sprouted mine first; soaked them in daily changed water for a few days, put them in moist seeding compost will they were an inch or two high, then planted them out.

Lovely peas, fantastic flavour, quite prolific (even when hidden by the weeds!) just wish I planted FAR more!

Oh, & next year I'll remember that they're heavy and that the supports need to be MUCH stronger than this year's efforts!
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: RSJK on July 09, 2006, 19:28:49: Very pleased with this variety of pea it is called ambassador they say it is resistant to mildew, it as cropped very heavily, I picked 65lbs the other night of two rows and think that there will be as many to come again.

(http://[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/richardkinson/Alottment%20July%202006/e37532b6.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/richardkinson/Alottment%20July%202006/e37532b6.jpg)[/img]
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 09, 2006, 20:18:30: I'm trying it this year; it's a nice pea but it's not producing a lot. I suspect that's down to the weather though.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: bennettsleg on July 09, 2006, 21:36:00: Quote from: Richard Kinson on July 09, 2006, 19:28:49
(http://[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/richardkinson/Alottment%20July%202006/e37532b6.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/richardkinson/Alottment%20July%202006/e37532b6.jpg)[/img]

What kind of support are you using Robert? Looks like vertical square posts with horizontal bamboo. Just being nosy as I underestimated how heavy the pea plants would be.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 09, 2006, 23:12:04: That's not my pic, but I'm using bamboo poles with netting hung from them.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: bennettsleg on July 11, 2006, 13:52:32: Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on July 09, 2006, 23:12:04
That's not my pic, but I'm using bamboo poles with netting hung from them.

Oh corbels! Sorry - I meant to ask Richard (doh!) I blame the heat!

With your method, do you plant on the outside or the inside of the mesh? I take it the peas climb up/through the mesh for support.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 11, 2006, 18:49:57: I plant a double row, and put the mesh down the middle.
Title: Re: Peas - what am I doing wrong?
Post by: RSJK on July 12, 2006, 17:19:26: Bennettsleg.........
(http://[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/richardkinson/Alottment%20July%202006/000_0442.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v401/richardkinson/Alottment%20July%202006/000_0442.jpg)[/img]

I use stakes with a screw at every 6" intervals up them , put a stake every10ft an then bale twine from one stake to the other . I find this meathod works very well for me. I am very pleased with the way my peas have produced this year seeing that they have not had much rain on them. They have also not been watered.