Peas - a better result

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My previous efforts with growing peas have not met with great success, producing poor yields and often succumbing to mildew and/or pea-moth maggots before reaching full maturity. This year things have gone a lot better.

Some of the “Early Onward” peas are impressively big – much bigger than I had expected.

In case you missed this, I have plants of three different varieties on the go – “Early Onward”, “Douce Provence” and “Desiree”. It is the latter that has the purple pods.

I did sow some of another variety called “Terrain”, but very few of them germinated, and most of those that did were very weak, so I’m not counting them in my reckoning.

So far I have only harvested some of the “Early Onward”, (a little over 400g in total) but there are lots more to come.

The purple-coloured pods of “Desiree” are much more easily identified amongst the green foliage, which makes it look as if they are producing a bigger crop, but this may of course be an illusion.

So what is it that has made the difference? In my opinion it is most probably a combination of things. For a start, weather conditions are different every year, and this year we have had a lot of mild, dull and wet weather – which peas seem to like. Furthermore, the peas are growing in a different location, the other side of my (admittedly small) garden, and may be benefitting from a slightly different micro-climate, perhaps with better ventilation. The raised bed in which the peas are growing is also one that has never hosted peas before, and has had extensive preparation, including the addition of plentiful home-made compost. Finally, it has also had added to it some of that Seer Rockdust stuff which is alleged to be beneficial in the prevention of mildew. The latter claim is not one for which I can offer any real evidence, except to say that this year my peas have not contracted mildew (so far…).

Quality-wise, I have no complaints. Fresh peas eaten within hours / minutes of picking are delicious by any measure!

This success has given me renewed enthusiasm for growing peas. I think they will almost certainly be back on the Grow-List for next year.

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