PEA TROUBLESHOOTER

Q What are these little maggots inside my pea pods? A Pea moth is a pain and no one wants to see little white caterpillars where their peas should be. Adult moths pupate in the soil and emerge in June and July to lay their eggs on flowering pea plants. If you sow early or late, so your plants aren’t flowering during this time slot, you can avoid the moths and enjoy unsullied pods. Alternatively, grow a dwarf crop and cover the whole lot with insect-proof netting. Or, choose a mangetout cultivar instead. Q Why are plants looking white and dusty? A Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that can affect peas. It’s mainly a risk late in the season if they’ve become stressed through a lack of water. Make sure they’re growing in a moist but well-drained soil, preferably one improved with wellrotted organic matter the previous autumn. Mulch to retain soil moisture and water deeply during dry spells. If individual plants show signs of disease, cut them out and clear away all infected foliage straight away. Look out for cultivars known for resistance to the problem, such as ‘Ambassador’. Q What’s eating my seedlings? A Slugs and snails can damage newly emerged seedlings, but if shoots appear snipped and broken then pigeons are to blame. Covering young seedlings with fleece works as a barrier. However, once pea sticks are in place it requires a little more engineering to loop the fleece around. It’s usually worth making the extra effort until plants are growing away strongly. Q Why didn’t my peas germinate? A This is usually caused by sowing too early into cold wet soil. Or, they may have been eaten by mice, which have an alarming ability to sniff out new sowings. Try germinating in Rootrainers, loo roll inserts or lengths of guttering, in a mouse-free greenhouse or indoors.