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Peas & Mangetout

Pisum sativum

INTRODUCTION

A stalwart of the kitchen garden, not much compares to freshly picked Peas and Mangetout eaten straight from the plant.

Dating from 7000 BC and originating from the Mediterranean, Peas were introduced to England by the Romans. Mangetout is a more contemporary use of this versatile vegetable and in effect is just an immature Pea eaten whole rather than shelling individually. The only drawback for Peas is they require a sizeable area to produce a worthwhile yield. Mangetout delivers more reliable harvests.

Soil Preparation

Peas and Mangetout require a well-drained, moderately fertile soil preferably in a sheltered position away from prevailing winds.

Prepare the ground by incorporating well-rotted manure or garden compost into the soil.

Peas do not like to sit in wet soil but will struggle during drought conditions.

Sowing & Planting

Sowing can begin in early spring weather permitting. Soil temperatures should be above 10c as germination will be erratic in cold soils.

Sow early varieties first followed by second earlies and finally maincrop varieties. Earlies should take about 12 weeks to reach maturity with maincrops maturing from 14 weeks onwards.

Several varieties of Pea are available for autumn sowing and overwintering, for example, 'Douce Provence' and 'Meteor' giving extra early harvests. Cloche protection may be necessary.

Sow seed liberally in shallow trenches 5cm (2 inches) deep.

Alternatively, sow in modules with several seeds per cell.

Water well and keep soil moist until germination is complete.

Growing & General Cultivation

Peas and Mangetout will require supports to enable plants to grow upwards. Without, they will just become a sprawly mess.

The traditional method of support is with Hazel twigs or branches which can be cut and gathered during the winter. Simply push into the ground, the crop will find its own way up, no need to tie shoots in.

As an alternative, stretch netting or chicken wire along the rows to provide support.

Keep crops well watered, particularly during dry weather and when flowers are forming.

Pests & Diseases

Peas and Mangetout are susceptible to a number of pests and diseases:

Mice can be a problem in the early stages. They will dig up seed and eat young shoots. Slightly over-sow to compensate. See Product Directory for methods of protection.

Pigeons can devastate crops. Protect with nets or cloches.

Pea Moth can cause problems, particularly during the summer. Its larvae burrow into the developing peas. Autumn sown and early spring crops are less prone to attack. It may also be beneficial to cover crops at the flowering stage with fleece.

Pea and Bean Weevil will attack foliage leaving leaves with a serrated appearance but should have no detrimental effect on plant growth or yields.

Pea Thrips appear on foliage as silvery patches. Pods will become distorted and peas will not form. Chemical and organic sprays are available.

Powdery Mildew can affect Peas, normally later in the season, and appears as grey powdery patches on foliage. Growth will be stunted and in severe cases may kill plants. Resistant varieties are available such as 'Kenobi' and 'Terrain'