Sowing Outdoors

Make a flat bottomed drill 15cm wide and water it well. Sow about ten seeds per 30cm, spacing them evenly in a zigzag manner. Cover with about 2cm of soil, and firm it down with the flat edge of a rake.

Allow about 60cm between rows. As seedlings emerge, the shoots are very attractive to birds, but a few short twigs placed over the row will give some protection. Very early spring sowings will benefit from cloche protection.

Support

As the peas start to grow, support them with canes and netting, as you would for runner beans. The plants will reach a height of up to 150cm.

Aftercare

Keep well watered, especially in dry spells.