General Information

Peas are a cool-season crop that can be grown in Ireland from early spring to late summer. If you are trying to get your children interested in vegetable growing, this is the crop to grow. They are easy to sow and easy to grow. They do require a fair amount of attention with regards to training, they are prone to pests and diseases and they produce a relatively small yield for the space they occupy. But all this is worth it for the flavour of a freshly picked garden pea. Home-grown, freshly picked peas are sweet and delicious, better than any you can buy in supermarkets. They are a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Tall varieties of peas will need to be supported with a trellis or stakes. Place the supports in the ground before planting the peas.

Choose a sunny, well-drained spot. Dig in plenty of garden compost, well-rotted manure or mushroom compost before sowing to improve the soil. To stop plants flopping about on the ground, put supports in place while they’re still young. Peas climb using pea shoots called tendrils, which they wrap around just about anything they come into contact with, so choose supports that are thin enough for the tendrils to wind around. Large twigs, known as pea sticks, are the traditional choice, but a row of netting is also useful.

Sowing peas

Sow peas directly into the ground in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Sow the seeds 1-2 inches deep and 2 inches apart. Water the seeds well after sowing.

Although starting them off indoors is often safest as the seeds as seedlings make tasty snacks for various garden creatures, once established they grow and crop readily. Sow small batches every few weeks from early spring, for harvests through summer and into autumn.

Varieties

Peas are more varied than you might expect – there are peas for shelling (garden peas), mangetout and sugarsnap; green, yellow or purple pods; tall, medium or dwarf plants, early varieties and maincrops. Garden peas, for shelling, produce either smooth or wrinkled peas. Smooth varieties are hardier, so are better for early sowings. Wrinkled varieties are for late spring or summer sowing, and have a sweeter flavour. Some varieties produce particularly long pods, containing up to ten peas, others a bigger overall crop. Varieties are classed as either earlies or maincrops, growing progressively taller and taking longer to crop:

• First earlies – sow March to early June, start harvesting in about 12 weeks

• Second earlies – sow March to June, start harvesting in 13–14 weeks

• Maincrops – sow March to June, start harvesting in 14–16 weeks

• Marrowfat varieties are grown to full maturity and dried, for use in stews and casseroles, or for making mushy peas. Petit pois varieties have very small, sweet-flavoured peas.

• Mangetout and sugarsnap varieties, which are picked before the peas mature, are the easiest to grow and tend to produce larger crops. Mangetout have flat, stringless pods, while sugarsnap peas have fleshy, rounded pods, and both types are eaten pod and all. There are several particularly decorative varieties with purple or yellow pods and mauve or blue flowers.

Planting

• When the seedlings are 2-3 inches tall, thin them out to 4-6 inches apart.

• Mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Harvesting

• Peas are ready to harvest when the pods are plump and the peas are fully developed.

• Pick the peas regularly to encourage more growth.

• You can also harvest young pea shoots (which taste like peas) to add to salads.

Pests and diseases

Birds love to eat peas, so it is important to protect your crop. Cover the plants with netting or bird scarers.

Peas are susceptible to a number of other pests and diseases, including aphids, powdery mildew, and downy mildew. Monitor your plants regularly for signs of pests or diseases and treat them promptly.