Planting Peas - Claire's Allotment part 29

[bilstew]

Very well demonstrated Clare, Please if you could.mention best way to prepare the ground before planting.Would a trench of well rotted horse manure be a help to produce a better crop or do Peas prefer non fertilised soil..When is best period to give xtra watering? I find Bamboo rods are best and tape the ends to prevent rotting where they go into the soil. Bill. Thanks for all your excellent Vids.

[clairesallotment]

@bilstew Thanks for the comment. Before I plant my peas I give it a good forking over with a large fork, then a hand fork to get rid of any lumps. If you haven't already put some manure in then do, but I tend to put mind on the previous Autumn and let the worms do all the hard work. I'd only dig a shallow trench for the peas if you've started them off in guttering, that way you can just slide them in without disturbing the roots. Water more when the flowers come so the set & you get more peas.

[bilstew]

@clairesallotment Ok Clare and funny enough after using the garden fork I tend to use the slimmest hand spade I can get rather than the hand fork to break up any lumps...I suppose its each to his or her own.This winter I will be experimenting in a small Poly-tunnel I have built and the idea is to bring on my seedlings earlier in prep. for outplanting.I will be using an electric blanket below the seed trays to provide warmth and it will be fed via 12v.inverter,timer and 1/2 wave rectifier.

[clairesallotment]

@bilstew I've just had to buy myself a new hand trowel, as I broke my last one. I kept bending the handle back, and eventually it fell off. I don't know how many I've gone through since I started. But my new one cost me quite a lot and has a solid handle, so I'm hoping that it'll last. Only time will tell. I hope the poly tunnel works well and your seedling appreciate all the hard work you're putting. You've got a great set up sorted for them. It's the sort of thing my dad would do.

[johnsriver64]

Clare you are adorable ,love your educational ways of gardening. G.C Australia.

[clairesallotment]

@johnsriver64 Thank you so very much.

[treefrog2108]

some devious bugs are eating my bean plant leaves in my garden not sure what though,theres no sign of the crafty buggers:( my indoor ones are doing good ,cant wait to get beans from them. thanks for the tips.

all hail the duke!

[clairesallotment]

@treefrog2108 It may be birds, they sometimes have a nibble, without seeing the leaves it's difficult to say. If there are silver lines on the groung then it's slugs or snails. If any leaves are curled up then it's most probably caterpillars and they've laid eggs in the leaves.

[sadia102]

Thanks Claire

at the moment I am using the tops of bamboo stakes with the thin branches and leaves still attached to hold the peas. Seems to work.

[clairesallotment]

That sound great.

[sk8erboy234TY]

Thanks your such an inspiration

[clairesallotment]

I'm working on it!

[sk8erboy234TY]

When can you put Peas in the grown?

[clairesallotment]

They can go straight in the ground in March or April. Put about 2 - 3 inches deep. Protect from the birds when they start to come up.

[lavendercreek]

Great videos Claire. Thank you for showing so many different ways to do things. I think using sticks looks easier. We go out into the forest and collect thin long branches and use those for our peas.

[clairesallotment]

Anything for the peas to work their way up is fine. Branches are free, so keep on going.