How to grow Peas, Mange Tout and Sugar snap Peas

Peas are definitely a green wheelbarrow veg plant, as they are easy to grow, even from seed. Whether growing traditional green peas, sugar snap or mange tout the growing method is the same for all. As for planting, it is a balance. Peas need a good amount of sun the thrive but do now do well with hot, scorching afternoon sun. If possible, a spot which gets full sun with a little afternoon shade would be ideal.

Peas tolerate frost surprisingly well, so you can germinate them from March onwards and plant them outside. Depending on where in the country you are gardening, Peas will tolerate temperatures down to around -2, but are not happy with prolonged frost or snow. In milder parts of the country plant outside in March, in other areas under glass for planting outside in April or May.

Plant or sow about 10-15cms apart in rows which are spaced out. If planted too close together, it can aggregate mildew, which Peas are prone to later in the season. Plants which are dry are more prone, so water well and planting further apart helps the air circulation.

Peas don't like their roots being disturbed, and one advantage of sowing into toilet roll holders as opposed to root trainers is that with toilet roll holders you can leave them in situ or peel away carefully, causing minimum disturbance to the roots. Keep compost moist and the Peas should germinate easily.

If germinated under glass, once the seedlings are about 15cms high, you need to harden off before planting out. It's too much of a shock to the plant to go from the protected environment of a greenhouse straight outside. Place the tray of plants outside on milder days, bringing inside at night. Leave out for longer periods until the plants are outside all the time. 

Peas are a fun crop for children to grow.  Peas easily germinate, grow quickly, and children can pick and eat them straight from the pod. 

In the same way as Lathyrus odoratus, the Sweet Pea, Peas put out many tendrils and if you have time, thin these out otherwise, towards the end of the growing season, the peas can be a bit of a tangle which reduces growth and cropping. Apart from this, Peas don't need any maintenance except to ensure the crop does not run short of water once the flowers appear. It's always a good idea if buying seed or plants to select those with RHS merit award, an indication of best performance.

There are first early, and second early, varieties of peas designed to fruit at different times.

More gardeners tips about growing peas on the Suttons blog.

Not much goes wrong when growing peas. 

 Although there are several diseases which can strike Peas, they are usually trouble free.

If, after sowing germination fails, it is usually rodents eating the Pea seed.

The main thing to watch is rainfall and dry spells. Edible peas are just like the ornamental sweet pea, they do not do well if conditions and the soil are too dry. Dryness will reduce the volume of the crop and make the peas more prone to mildew. To ameliorate this, add organic matter to the soil, and a mulch. You may have to water during a dry spell. This is especially so after flowering when the pods are fattening up.

Peas, whether you are growing conventional type, sugar snap or the mange tout varieties, need to climb and scramble up netting rather than canes. You can buy special nets for peas, but any sort of netting is Ok and can be recycled each year. Because they climb using tendrils, it is important to get a net or twigs in place before they grow. There are short, dwarf and tall varieties of peas which determine the type of support, pea sticks and stakes for the short varieties. You will need a net or trellis for the tall ones.

You do not need to buy netting, peas will scramble up twigs and sticks if you prefer to use natural off cuts and prunings, as long as they are tall enough for the Pea variety.