Some varieties of garden pea can be sown in autumn – if you’re patient enough to nurse seedlings through winterAs you may have gathered, I’m a big fan of a crop that can be overwintered. The soil appreciates it when it’s not left bare, and growers benefit from a harvest arriving far sooner than from plants we sow in spring. Much like their relative, the sweet pea, certain varieties of garden pea can be sown now. Assuming they establish before winter truly sets in, they will – all being well – be ready to get growing, flowering and fruiting as soon as winter gives way to spring.Peas are a cool-weather crop, so are ideal for this approach, but not all varieties lend themselves to sowing in autumn. Those with a wrinkled seed coat have many nooks where water can gather, which means they’re vulnerable to rotting before they germinate. So the varieties that boast a smooth seed coat – such as ‘Douce Provence’, ‘Meteor’ and ‘First Early May’ – are most suitable. Continue reading…
Source : theguardian.com
Read more…Sow peas now for an early harvest, but beware mice, slugs and birds
