The podcast that comes with a taste sensation
HOME-GROWN peas are a taste sensation and so much better than any ‘fresh’ peas sold in supermarkets. It doesn’t matter whether it’s bags of pods or packs of hand shelled peas, within minutes of being harvested for the shops, the natural sugars inside the flesh start to convert to starch and their flavour and texture is impaired.
To experience the difference in flavour yourself, sow seeds in a sunny spot now and you’ll be picking handfuls of pods by the end of summer – those with a large veg plot and a big appetite for peas might like to sow a few seeds every couple weeks until the end of July, providing pickings well into November.
Technically, there are two main types of pea – wrinkled and round. Wrinkled varieties are best for sowing in summer as their seeds have craggy skin that can trap water, leading to them rotting in cold soil over winter. Round varieties are ideal for sowing in autumn – plants are hardier and seeds have smooth skin that sheds water.
Among the best varieties for summer sowing are ‘Rondo’, ‘Alderman’, ‘Kelvedon Wonder’ and ‘Hurst Green Shaft’, which grows to 2½ft tall and is popular thanks to its heavy crops of well-filled pods, each containing about ten sweet tasting peas.
Prior to sowing, give the soil some attention. Turn over the ground with a fork and break up large lumps. Work in some garden compost or well-rotted manure, and then rake the soil backwards and forwards in one direction, and then in another direction, 90 degrees to the first. It’s ready when the top 2in to 3in is nice and crumbly.
Make a shallow trench 9in wide by 1in deep – an easy way to create a furrow is to pull soil back with a draw hoe. Sow seeds in two parallel lines, spacing them 2in apart. Cover with soil excavated from the trench, then water. Space subsequent rows about 3ft apart to provide access for picking and maintenance.
When seedlings are 2in tall, add some supports to prevent them collapsing under their own weight. A few twiggy sticks set into the ground at regular intervals will do for compact varieties.
Taller ones will need something more substantial, such as a sheet of support netting attached to a row of 6ft-tall bamboo canes. Looking after them is easy. Remove any weeds that appear to prevent them competing for moisture and nutrients, and water plants regularly, especially during warm, dry spells. Apart from ensuring pods swell, watering prevents problems with downy mildew disease, which tends to be worst when the soil is dry.
Peas will generally be ready for picking about three months after sowing. Ensure a steady supply by picking regularly to encourage more pods to develop – those at the bottom will generally be the first to mature.
To avoid damaging plants, cut pods off individually with scissors and don’t attempt to pull off by hand.