Allotments 4 All

Humidity, definitely.  Lower air moisture content in continental climate.   A few small, white puffy clouds or none.  Usually here we have bright sunshine, unless it actually rains, not the more usual British overcast weather without direct sun (but without rain).  If you see black clouds blocking the sunlight here, take cover!  One year in Britain we had six weeks of continuous cloud cover and no sunshine at all.  I was tearing my hair out, because the tomatoes and squashes hated it. Britain has a maritime climate with moisture from the sea trapped by much denser cloud cover. 

Quote from: galina on Yesterday at 13:46:05Vetivert and Jan, yes but it only worked here.  In Rushden not so much, because of bad mildew.  Here we do not get that same mildew.  I know that some people have done it successfully in England for an autumn harvest with a July sowing.  It is worth an experiment, but clearly not with precious peas.  Good luck. 

Galina, do you know what the key difference is between the two environments in terms of their effects on mildew? Temperature, humidity, other?

Rushden's slightly alkaline soil did not save the peas from extensive mildew problems. I had no sweet pea experience then and neither did I attempt to spray the edible peas against it. 

A cool and moist environment is definitely a good idea, as peas can crisp up and perish in the heat of summer quite fast without it.  Watering pots might be more difficult than keeping the ground moist.  I find that yellow podded peas last quite a bit better in summer heat than green podded ones. 

                   

By 'at home' I'm assuming you mean outside at home, rather than indoors, although I've read of someone keeping a single climbing bean plant indoors, out of season, in order to get precious seeds. Personally I'd prefer the at home alternative, outdoors, where you can keep a daily eye on the plant(s).

I have no understanding at all of the likely effects of peroxide but instinctively it doesn't seem to go well with an edible plant, and so much faff!

But it's obviously a question of personal preference and convenience in your precise circumstances. Good luck. Let us know.

I'm afraid I'm not surprised at all. I no longer buy live plants from T&M, however tempting, just seeds and equipment. The quality of the plants I received was poor and made worse by unreliable delivery. One time the order had clearly been despatched at just the right time to spend a long and very hot Bank holiday weekend in a Post Office depot. Another time there was a special offer on buying three dahlia "Bishop of Llandaff": the "1 x 3" on the consignment note was represented by a single tuber. I complained and they eventually sent me a replacement - three unlabelled tubers that were obviously not the Bishop and proved to be bedding dahlias.

So I no longer give the opportunity to disappoint me.

I'll try again, in the hope that they're able to provide an explanation for the differences at least. I waited 9 months for them to be delivered! They kept delaying the order. I wonder if there was a mix up somewhere in the supply chain.

Thanks for the advice :) there's a cool(ish) slightly shaded area near some fruit trees that I should perhaps utilise and leave the more open beds for beans?. Or put the peas in pots at home, it's very shady here with some afternoon sun, they might prefer it... the allotment can get very hot. Have you experimented with sprays to keep the mildew at bay? I've read people have success with dilute peroxide and seaweed on sweet peas, apparently the mildew is intolerant of an alkaline environment, though sweet pea foliage is quite different to that of edible peas.

Vetivert and Jan, yes but it only worked here.  In Rushden not so much, because of bad mildew.  Here we do not get that same mildew.  I know that some people have done it successfully in England for an autumn harvest with a July sowing.  It is worth an experiment, but clearly not with precious peas.  Good luck. 

Wow, Vetivert. That's an amazing list of possibles. There are so very many varieties there which are completely new to me and which hold such exciting promise! Good luck indeed for a good season of growth and with combating the drought which seems to be settling in for many at the moment.

On the pea question, I guess one factor is how many seeds you have of the varieties in question. If you have enough to hedge your bets and try some seeds now and keep some back, it seems worth having a go. Have you got anywhere half shady to protect against the worst of the summer heat. I imagine plentiful watering would help ward off the worst of summer mildew.

I'm thinking Galina has experience of later growing of peas and will offer a far more informed, experience-based opinion.

Quote from: Vetivert on May 13, 2025, 19:20:16Thank you for organising this again Jan and count me in please :)


The Chinese Pink Celery I included last year appears to have crossed with a plant of Chinese White Celery, or accidentally mixed. I was sure they flowered at different times and the white seedhead was discarded but must have been mistaken.

Anyway, it's quite fortuitious as the seedlings are a mixture of vivid pink, pure white, pale pink, and pinky green. Selection options!

I'm fairly sure my seedlings are all pink but I shall check again today.