The taste of fresh peas straight from the pod is one of the reasons many of us grow our own and the great news is if you choose the right varieties, you can be enjoying them fresh from early summer to late autumn.
They are versatile, too. Depending on variety, they can be eaten fresh, dried or frozen, as microgreens (pea shoots) or highly nutritious sprouted seeds. Besides, what dish isn’t improved by some peas? From a curry to a humble soup, those little sweet nuggets will lift any meal.
SITE AND SOIL
Choose a sunny site, sheltered from strong winds if possible. Peas need a fertile soil and one which has preferably had some well-rotted manure or garden compost incorporated or used as a top dressing in autumn. Peas often follow potatoes and come before leafy brassicas in a crop rotation.
As well as a dressing of organic matter, it is a good idea to evenly scatter a general fertiliser such as chicken manure pellets, Growmore, blood, fish and bone or comfrey pellets over the soil and to rake in a week before sowing.
SOWING
By choosing the right varieties and sowing in succession you can ensure a steady supply of fresh-picked peas from June to September or October when autumn conditions tend to encourage mildew and put an end to your plants. However, peas are often so prolific and freeze so well that any surplus can be stored away to enjoy throughout the winter.
This story is from the April 2023 edition of Kitchen Garden.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2023 edition of Kitchen Garden.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
SEPTEMBER SPECIALS
This month, with sweetcorn, figs and blackberries on the menu, Anna Cairns Pettigrew is not only serving up something sweet and something savoury, but all things scrumptious
FLAVOURSOME FRUIT AUTUMN RASPBERRIES
September - is it late summer or the start of autumn? David Patch ponders the question and says whatever the season, it's time to harvest autumn raspberries
SOW GREEN THIS AUTUMN
Covering the soil with a green manure in winter offers many benefits and this is a good time to sow hardy types, says KG editor Steve Ott
A HISTORICAL HAVEN OF FRUIT AND FLOWERS
KG's Martin Fish takes time out from his own plot to visit a walled garden in Lincolnshire which has been home to the same family for more than 400 years
RESTORING THE BALANCE
The phrase regenerative gardening is often heard in gardening circles, but what is it? Can it help you to grow better veg? Ecologist Becky Searle thinks so, and tells us why
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
Garden Organic's Anton Rosenfeld shares his expertise on using compost made from green bin collections with handy tips on getting the right consistency and quality
Celebrating Organic September!
In this special section we bring you four great features aimed at improving your crops and allowing nature to thrive
SEEING RED
Do your tomatoes have a habit of remaining stubbornly green? Or perhaps you're lucky to enjoy lots of lovely fruits - just all at once. Either way, Benedict Vanheems is here with some top tips to ripen and process the nation's favourite summer staple
NEW KIDS ON THE BROCCOLI!
Rob Smith is talking broccoli this month with a review of the different types available and suggestions for some exciting new varieties to try
A NEW kitchen garden
Martin Fish is getting down to plenty of picking and planting on the garden veg plot, while Jill is rustling up something pepper-licking good!
