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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Rosyred on March 12, 2007, 20:35:11

Title: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: Rosyred on March 12, 2007, 20:35:11
My peas are about ready to be planted outside. Is it too early as we had a frost last night? They are Early Onward. First time for growing peas.
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: emmy1978 on March 12, 2007, 20:49:43
I'm planting mine out this week, but then frosts are relatively rare this time of year in Bournemouth. It's been beautiful here this week. Hope this doesn't cause weather curse. MIght bottle it and leave it another week!  :)
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: knbsallotment on March 12, 2007, 20:50:55
I planted out my early onward seedlings on Sunday. Some of the smaller ones I protected with half a clear plastic bottle, helps to keep them warm (like a mini cold frame) - also stops the birds eating the shoots!
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: grotbag on March 12, 2007, 20:51:52
hi. i would wait a bit .im just outside bournemouth
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: Clairylou on March 12, 2007, 20:55:39
I took my chances and planted my pea seedlings out on Sunday because they were getting a bit big to stay in their pots. 
I mulched them with straw in the hope it might help them along.

Claire
:)
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: knbsallotment on March 12, 2007, 20:55:55
I'm in Norfolk, so am hoping worst of the frosts are past now. Plus, I desperately needed to make more space in my green house! So, I had to sacrifice my early radishes, lettuces and peas. I've protected most of them with bottles or fleece etc. I had to be brave! My poor lil seedlings! lol.
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: emmy1978 on March 12, 2007, 21:07:56
Quote from: grotbag on March 12, 2007, 20:51:52
hi. i would wait a bit .im just outside bournemouth
Hi, I see you're in Christchurch! Where's your site?  :D
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: grotbag on March 12, 2007, 21:09:54
hi emmy,on somerford
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: Rosyred on March 12, 2007, 21:11:38
I have enough toilet roll tubes to protect them but I bit short on plastic bottles to plant them out. Also have to protect from the birds or they will be having a right feast.
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: knbsallotment on March 12, 2007, 21:16:41
How about using some fleece / cloches to keep them warm, and protect from birdies at the same time?
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: cornykev on March 12, 2007, 21:21:44
I planted mine out Saturday with some more to follow soon.   ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: emmy1978 on March 12, 2007, 21:22:58
I've been stocking up on bottles Rosyred, so birdies beware! Do a quick whip round of family and work friends, mums at school etc. Mine all think I'm slightly unhinged with the things I ask for (loo rolls, plastic bottles etc)
I thought it would probably be warm enough to plant them out but might either leave it, the problem with that it they tend to go a bit mad and leggy, or fleece them to be on safe side. Gaagh, it was all so simple till I read this. I'm not even supposed to be here. I'm supposed to be writing essay due in on wed! Curse this nice weather!
Grotbag - how funny, i didn't know there was a site down there. Lovely Christchurch, although the traffic!  ::)
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: mc55 on March 13, 2007, 22:54:04
I sowed mine direct about a week ago under plastic cloche & fleece ... no sign yet,  but suspect the vole family will be to blame if they don't appear
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: legless on March 14, 2007, 08:45:16
mine are going out this week (coastal suffolk) but i'll put a polythene tunnel over them (from poundland - guess how much? LOL) for a bit.
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: sawfish on March 14, 2007, 08:58:49
Mine are now getting big in their gutter home so I'm going to be daring and plant them out up here in Glasgow, if they die they die and I'll just shove some more in.
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: cambourne7 on March 14, 2007, 09:35:23
Hi

I have my early peas ready to repot and i will be planting them in position in about another week.

I will be starting off my maincrop peas tonight and some of my beans.

Cambourne7
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: Jitterbug on March 14, 2007, 11:38:33
Hi Emmy1978

I am on Roeshot allotments in Christchurch - where is your lottie.  I planted my Early Onward peas out on Sunday as they were also getting a bit leggy - also  netted them and when I tried to put some fleece over them almost took up kite flying.  Gave that up as a bad idea but when I went down last night after work they seemed to be doing OK.  I will just have to watch the weather forecasts for frost.

About space in green house - I have planted some more peas - Kelvedon and Sugarsnap Delikett in guttering which I have strung up in the greenhouse with string.  It served two purposes - 1) gave me extra space in the g/house and 2) kept it away from the mice!!  They germinated only 10 days after planting.  Will send you a photo if you cannot picture what I did.

Jitterbug
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: bennettsleg on March 14, 2007, 12:04:31
I shall be pre-soaking some this weekend for planting out a huge row the following weekend and covering with some fleece and crossing fingers!
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: cambourne7 on March 14, 2007, 12:09:52
how much more sucessful does presoaking peas make them?
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: bennettsleg on March 14, 2007, 12:19:08
with soaking it was evident which peas were going to work and which were duds so after getting them to sprout a tiny bit they were put into seedling compost to get growing into seedlings then planted out & covered over.  Every plant grew up to be big, strong and manly bountiful.  No seeds were munched on by timourous beasties either.

It was a suggestion found on here which made things work well for me.
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: sawfish on March 14, 2007, 12:20:48
Suspended pea guttering as done by myself and Jitterbug....

(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stan.shepherd/downloads/peas.jpg)
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: cambourne7 on March 14, 2007, 12:37:08
Ah but does it make a difference if you have wrinkled or round peas?
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: saddad on March 14, 2007, 12:43:35
The round ones are hardier...
;D
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: sawfish on March 14, 2007, 13:17:40
But wrinklies taste better.   :o
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: manicscousers on March 14, 2007, 21:10:26
one lot ready for planting and one lot on their way up  ;D
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: MrsKP on March 14, 2007, 22:02:19
Put some Twinkle in the ground ages ago (why is it that the one date you look back for is never in the diary?  ::)) and they grown up the netting a wee bit, looking a bit scraggy at ground level though, and put my Meteor in the ground yesterday.  Both going up the same netting and covered by a fleece cage to protect them from the worst of the wind and rain.  Roots on the Meteor were trying to escape from the milk bottle pots and as I understand it they don't like discomfort, so I'm just waiting to see what happens with them.

The master plan is to sow another half row of both the other side of the netting, straight into the ground to be covered by pop bottle cloches to ward of the evil scurrying fiends.  Will do that at the weekend if the weather holds !

First year of growing peas so living in hope (as per usual).

;D
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: kt. on March 14, 2007, 22:56:24
Only just sowed my first batch in guttering last weekend.
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: dawn34 on March 15, 2007, 14:21:10
last year we just put them in the ground didn't grow in pots got a few peas does it make a difference if you pot them first?
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: manicscousers on March 15, 2007, 15:05:42
Quote from: dawn34 on March 15, 2007, 14:21:10
last year we just put them in the ground didn't grow in pots got a few peas does it make a difference if you pot them first?

it means slugs and mice don't get there first and weeds don't grow in between  ;D
Title: Re: Is it too early for peas???
Post by: OliveOil on March 15, 2007, 21:48:43
I sowed Feltnam Firsts direct in first week of Feb... will be fleecing on saturday though.