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I am currently growing waverex, kelvedon wonder and feltham first. I am under the impression that these are all dwarf varieties.  They are all about 1ft tall but the crop of pea pods on them is somewhat disappointing.  In total from 24 plants I have about 30 pods on them.

I was wondering whether there is a variety that I can grow now and that are heavy croppers and taller.  I was hoping to grow them up a wigwam.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Julie

I would think your peas would go on producing flowers but maybe the dry weather has held them back.

I am trying some peas this year from www.realseeds.co.uk/index.html. They are old english that grow 8' to 10' and produce flowers/peas further and further up the stem as you use those from the bottom. I am trying a few on a tall bean net strung between two 8' tall poles. I am also trying there giant mange tout in the same way. The seeds cannot be sold because of EU rules so I paid my one penny to be a member of the club for a year and hence got my seeds.

I think these could be really good and sound just what you would like.

I am growing Alderman up a wigwam, first lot sown in pots (17/3) just flowered a few days ago and now some pods are forming, about 4 ft tall at the moment.
This website http://gardenbymail.co.uk/ourshop/prod_616374-Pea-Alderman-Ave-120-seeds.html says sow till July, but I am sure the packet (Unwins) said till May. The packet is in the shed at the plot, I'll have a look tomorrow, see what it says.

Quote from: mpdjulie on June 06, 2010, 22:04:00
.. the crop of pea pods on them is somewhat disappointing.  In total from 24 plants I have about 30 pods on them....Julie

I was trying to think how many pods you get from one pea plant and gave up. Maybe half a dozen or a dozen. Then you may get 6 to 8 peas in a pod.
Someone will know, but what I do know is that 24 pea plants is nowhere near enough to produce the sort of volume of peas that you get in a bag of frozen peas. This year, I'll probably have a couple of rows in, with probably 150 plus pea plants in each row. And it's STILL not enough!!
In many years of growing, I've decided that I just don't have the room to grow the volume of peas that we eat cooked. For three, we use at least a pound of peas for a meal. The ones I do grow get mostly eaten raw, either on the plot by me, or in salads. Normally I freeze a bagfull for having at Christmas, and thats it for home freezing peas.
If there's anyone out there growing enough peas on their garden to keep them in peas all year, PLEASE let us know how many rows, what variety etc etc.

Last year I had 150 plants, with what two of us ate and giving to family and friends, it was no where near enough. This year I have 1100 plants on the go, I will let you know how it goes.

 Robbo.

You're not too late, and you're right, tall peas are heavier cropping. Alderman is a good one, King's Seeds is probably the best place to go. I'm trying various varieties from Real Seeds this year, but I son't comment on the crop yet!

Robert, have you ever grown Mr Big? XX Jeannine

No, does it live up to its name?

I don't know, it is a very popular one here,hoped you knew XX Jeannine

Also known as Dorian, T&M in Uk have it.

Tall peas are much better, I'd try Magnum Bonum if you can source some. They do tend to get mildew towards the end of August when sown now unless it's a wet year. Mangetout seem to have much more mildew resistance.  :-X

Thanks for your replies everyone,  I've ordered 300 alderman peas for £1.69 including postage.
Julie

Quote from: saddad on June 07, 2010, 22:06:34
Tall peas are much better, I'd try Magnum Bonum if you can source some. They do tend to get mildew towards the end of August when sown now unless it's a wet year. Mangetout seem to have much more mildew resistance.  :-X

I agree Magnum Bonum is a superb pea, alas, fairly late and really needs sowing earlier.  They last well into summer with a huge crop of shelling peas.

One of the problems with sowing peas now is that they will come into cropping when the pea moth attacks are at their worst.  This may be ok for mangetouts harvested young, but with shelling peas you will have to throw away half the peas in every pod and it takes ages to go through them all to get a meal together.  To avoid pea maggotts, I would fleece them.  The problem with fleece is that it makes the peas underneath hotter and peas don't 'do' heat.  The vines will perish fast.  If we get another cold summer, you should be fine with fleece. 

How about sowing an extra row of beans now?

A number of gardeners report success with July sown and late autumn harvested peas but that has worked for me only once.

Just my tuppence worth ....

Has anyone tried Twinkle pea. I thought it would be a nice for granddaughter to on there new plot with a name like Twinkle. 

@mpdjulie - Can you please tell us where you ordered the peas from?

I've tried a search, and haven't been able to find them at that price.

Thanks, Rob.

Quote from: irnhed on June 08, 2010, 14:27:54
@mpdjulie - Can you please tell us where you ordered the peas from?

I've tried a search, and haven't been able to find them at that price.

Thanks, Rob.

Rob, just spotted an ebay offer for 300 seeds for 99p with 90p extra for postage.

Great - thanks very much

I plant Kelvedon Wonder June / July and never have difficulties although if you leave the pods on too long they get maggoty. Watering is the key if planting at this time. For bulk pea / broad bean purchases I use Mole Seeds or Tozer seeds direct for upto 25kg bags.