Peas

[caroline7758]

As usual I was in arush to get stuff sown and didn't do my research! I've sown some "Meteor" peas in guttering today & put them in my greenhouse. Then started to look on t'internet & think

1) Probably the wrong type of peas for this time of year
2) Probably too late for sowing anyway and
3) Should have put drainage holes in the guttering (though how, without cracking, I don't know)

Have I got any chance of success or shall I throw them out & start again? :-[

[caroline7758]

[grawrc]

I would just leave them. I don't think you need holes in the guttering just don't overwater. They're not going to be there that long anyway. Meteor can be sown in spring as well as autumn. :)

[supersprout]

Depends if you have space to plant in succession, or if these fail. But I don't see why they should - generally seeds wanna sprout and fruit come what may, and will gracefully accommodate deviant seed sowers (living proof ;)).

If you do have the space, I think it's always worth taking advantage of 'accidents' - you never know, you might have found the exact pea and sowing time for your soil or climate. And you'd never have found out any other way! ;D

There's always next year ...  :)

[jennym]

Meteor is a round pea, so should be ok if the weather is a bit cold.
Definitely not too late for sowing - my first peas have gone in over the last couple of weeks.
If the compost is just moist in your guttering, it will be ok, I'd get them into the soil as soon as you start to see sprouts.

[caroline7758]

Thanks for the encouragement! Fingers crossed!

[cleo]

There is nothing wrong with `Meteor`-OK it might not have the flavour of Alderman or Hurst Green Shaft but it is early and gives a crop before the others are ready

[Curryandchips]

I have Lincoln peas just sprouting, so I am planting them out as they appear. As supersprout says, nature is generally tolerant of our uncertainties ...

[pakaba]

I hope it's not too late for meteor coz i haven't planted mine yet :(.  I had better get a move on.  I haven't got the guttering yet,  but am hoping DH hasn't recycled all the plastic bottles yet and i will cut them in half.... yet another job for tomorrow. What a shame another day to spend in the greenhouse  ;D

Paula

[caroline7758]

didn't hink about plastic bottles- guess they'd be easier to handle than a long piece of guttering. I was very pleased with myself, having found two broken pieces of guttering on some waste land near our house. (Too mean to pay a couple of quid at B&Q for new stuff!)

[supersprout]

I had better get a move on

Hey paula, relaaax, I got my plot in May last year and didn't plant pease till June, had 'em all summer anyway ;D

[grawrc]

My peas were miserable last year Sarah so I'm taking them more seriously this year. They were very promising and started producing pods then all just seemed to die off. :'(

I didn't worry too much because I'd rather have broad beans, runners and French anyway, but I found it a bit puzzling. Mangetout were not great either but all the beans were stunning. ::)

[supersprout]

I got a few like that (tasted like old peas in young pods, grr :-X). I thought it might be the dry weather of a late planting, watered the next lot after flowering when they were podding up and they seemed fine. I didn't get NEARLY as many as I wanted though, so am planting thick blocks this year with plants 3" apart in the beds, after sprouting (see below) the idea is that gives more peas anyway even if there are failures. And succession, will be planting through to June again ;D. Part of the fun is never being quite sure of the results, always was a sucker for the novelty carrot in That's Life 8) ;D

[grawrc]

I think you are probably right about the dryness. Also last year there was so much else to do and I didn't know what had been planted in that bed before.

This year they are being coddled into germination indoors and will planted out in a bed full of FYM and kitchen waste!

Fingers crossed ;)

Are you planting them out already?

[supersprout]

Sounds like peas can look forward to luxury lifestyle ;)

Yep, sprouted some and got them in last week, haven't been down to see if they are bouncing up like yours or if they are sulking in the cold. Will sow at three week intervals, that still only makes 4 successional sowings to mid June, including the one I just did. Eek! :o

Oh, and I mulch like anything after it's rained now (learned from last year ;D ;D ;D) - spent hops for the peas.

What mangetout are you growing - I've not grown these before, and have been seduced by purple podded ones :P ::)

[grawrc]

Peas are Cavalier and mangetout are Sugar Pea Norli.

[RSJK]

My first row of peas (Misty ) are growing well now they are about 2" tall now sowed 2 more rows last week and going to ( weather permitting ) sow two more rows next week.  I shall be making sowings of peas every two weeks now up until the middle of June and hopefully stocking the freezer up with them.

[bananagirl]

I just today put some peas in the ground in a circle around a stick, so I know where to put the supports when they need it. Never grown peas before. Can't wait till they poke their little heads up :)

[supersprout]

Your first crop circle!!! :o :o ;D

[pakaba]

Hi

what do you use as support for peas?  This will be my first year growing them too and i am thinking of making little cane wigwams covered in pea netting?  Or is that a daft idea?

P.

[bananagirl]

Your first crop circle!!! :o :o ;D

Tee hee. Made me giggle ;D(nothing to do with the bottle of wine by my elbow...hic!)

I have decided to use my mallow offcuts for supports, seeing as I went to all the trouble of keeping them...so I guess it will end up being a little wigwammy, or it'll all go horribly wrong and end up falling over...I like the wigwam thing. I've done it with sweet peas, so stands to reason it'll work with actual peas...