disappointing pea crop

[Beryl]

I've grown Hurst Greenshaft for as many years as I can remember and always had a very good crop. Usually picking from now until mid July from a March sowing.

This year however, they are very disappointing. I've made one picking so far, the peas are OK but small pods and smaller peas. The plants are starting to turn brown and go over already. I'm sure one more picking and that will be the end of them.

I can only put it down to the eratic weather conditions of this year but wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Beryl.

[John]

Hello Beryl
How do you water them? I have a soaker hose running along my pea rows which I run overnight when the soil starts to get really dry. I usually grow Cavalier and, sparrows permitting, they always crop well. Trying Alderman as well this year.
I also dust the row with ground lime when the plants are young and water it in. Can't remember why I do the lime thing - must have read about it somewhere years ago!

John

PS For the last few years sparrows have been a real problem but this year there are fewer of them and none of them are interested. Strange but I'm not complaining.

[Beryl]

Hi John,

They are on my allotment so a soaker hose is out of the question. Once the pods have formed I do water regularly. Birds are not problem because I keep them covered with netting.

The only other thing I can think if is we have a very large moggy on the site and if he is a tom - he maybe spraying which would account for the plants turning brown.

I did notice peas selling in the market today and they were very small.

I don't like sowing a later crop because they always seem to end up with the pea moth.

Beryl.

[Jenny Green]

I think it can only be that they've got dry, Beryl. Last year, when we had a couple of months of drought in the spring here, my pea crops were very poor, despite watering. I've always found wet springs equal great peas and dry springs have the opposite effect.
One tip - watering at the time of flowering, for some reason, has a big effect on the size of the crop.

[Johnboy]

Hi Beryl,
I don't actually water an awful lot but the two things I water copiously are Runner Beans and Peas.
I am about to pick some for lunch today and tomorrow have the first full picking. I freeze almost my entire crop and am almost self sufficient in them.
I think that they are a little smaller this year as generally there are some very long ones which appear to be absent. I could grow more but it's a space problem.
So tomorrow I will be busy picking, shelling, steam blanching and freezing!! I have 3 X 33ft rows.
I have Alderman and Radio (a variety sent to me by Clive a few years back) which grow even slightly taller that Alderman. Three rows of them as well!
JB.

[Beryl]

Hello Johnboy,

I really don't think it is the watering that is at fault with mine. They get a copius amount every 2 days. Like you I have always grown them to freeze, the sooner they are out and in the freezer the happier I am, but I don't think I am going have enough even for just me this year.
Can I blame the seed? well I usually by loose peas at the Potato Days but this year it was T & M seed as I couldn't get to Potato Day - I wonder!

I never bother to blanch peas - it really isn't necessary, same with broad beans - just shell, and either lay on trays or put straight into poly bags.

Bye the way I am enjoying some delicious first carrots right now - thank you.

Regards
Beryl.

[Colin_M]

So far I haven't watered my peas at all.

The plants are covered in flowers and I have loads of pods. However despite some of the pods being 3 or 4 inches long, the peas are taking a while to develop in them.

Any suggestions (apart from watering) or will they just come in due course?


Colin