Pea Seeds (Douce Provence)

Index

• Sowing Instructions (Indoors)
• How to Transplant
• Sowing Instructions (Outside)
• Crop Maintenance & How to Support
• How to Harvest
• Storage
• Pests & Diseases

Sowing Instructions (Indoors)

• Sowing time
  • Earlies - Sow February to March
  • Maincrop - Sow April to May
• Seeds can be sown successionally for a continual harvest
• Peas can be started indoors & transplanted out
• Peas can firstly be germinated in tissue or a cloth. To do so, soak tissue in water and place seeds inside, cover seeds with damp tissue and store in a warm and dark place
• Do not let seeds or tissue / cloth to dry out

How to Transplant

• After one week the seed should have germinated & will be ready for sowing outdoors
• In milder areas some pea varieties can be sown in October and over wintered for an early summer harvest
• When soil temperature begins to feel warm to the touch
• Prepare soil prior to transplanting
• Handle seedlings carefully
• Space seedlings 10cm apart
• With rows 60cm apart
• Plant deep, firming in soil & water in well

Sowing Instructions (Outdoors)

• Earlies - Sow February to March
• Maincrop - Sow April to May
• Smooth skin peas are hardier & can be sown out early
• Wrinkely skinned peas are more tender & sweeter tasting. Sow out once weather is warm

• Over wintered & early sown peas should be protected using a garden cloche

• To sow: Lightly rake growing area & then prepare drills
• Create a drill 5cm deep and 60cm wide
• Sow peas in drill in double rows, alternating sowing positions
• Space seeds 10cm apart
• Lightly press seeds into the base of this drill
• Close drill with soil, water well and label
• Distance between drills should equal the height of plant

Crop Maintenance & How to Support

• Keep moist
• Keep rows well weeded
• A sunny site or partial shade is suitable
• Note that taller pea plants (main crop) will cast a shade on the north side of the vegetable garden
• Choose a well cultivated, medium soil
• Avoid soil that waterlogs or dries out too easily
• Peas prefer neutral to slightly alkaline soil
• Dig and manure your soil the previous season if possible
• Before sowing it is recommended that you add a general fertiliser such as growmore or poultry manure

Supporting Growing Peas

• Peas vary in height with the main crop varieties being the largest
• To support peas you can use bamboo canes with bamboo connectors or wigwam frame supports
• Once the pea plants have reached 10cm in height the supports should be set up
• Alternatively allow peas to climb up wire netting which has been secured to timber posts

Harvesting

• Time to harvest varies for different peas
• Earlies are ready to harvest after 12 weeks
• Second Earlies (such as jaguar) are ready to harvest after 14 weeks
• Main crops (such as Alderman) are ready to harvest after 16 weeks
• This can vary depending on weather conditions
• Remember that pods are ready for picking once they are almost full
• Its best to harvest from the bottom of the stem working upwards
• Harvest every few days
• Regular picking will encourage new growth

Storage

• For short term storage place in your fridge
• Longer term storage you can simply keep in the freezer
• Boil peas for 90 second and allow to cool and dry before freezing

Pests & Disease

• Bird attack is the main problem for pea growers
• Birds will pull up young seedlings, root and all
• Slug damage to young seedlings can occur
• Use a garden cover net to protect your crop
• Other pests and diseases include pea and bean seed fly, pea thirps, leaf & pod spot