The first of the peas have been picked. They don't seem to have done as well as in previous years, I assume it's because of the dry weather we've been experiencing. There was only enough ready for one meal, but there are lots more pods filling up so hopefully we'll get a bigger batch at the next picking. These are Onward which I grow every year, I think I might have a change next year.At long last we've had a proper downpour, I can't remember the last one we had. The allotment will be really glad of it, as will the grass which is looking very pale and dried out.
We go on holiday at the end of next week so at the moment I'm trying to get the garden and allotment sorted out ready for our departure. I'm harvesting whatever I can so nothing goes to waste.
Strangely enough, we've had our best ever year for peas this year, and we arent that far away either!
ReplyDeleteI hope your next pea harvest will be better one. Same thing happened to my peas this year - first harvest was terrible, but second (also the last one) was pretty good. I got to freeze some.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about the dry weather affecting your pea harvest. I had similar problems last year as we hadn't sorted out a watering rota - now I just do it myself, unless there are children around to help! Sounds like your next harvest will be better though, and I wish you luck with it.
ReplyDeleteI don't grow peas as I would have to net them. Plot neighbours who do don't seem to get many for all the effort involved.
ReplyDeleteThere's still been virtually no rain here, although the forecast reckons that there's plenty to come over the next few days! Flighty xx
I harvested my peas on Sunday - barely 4 tablespoons in quanitity! My first time and I think they're beyond me. They all fell over and were cannon fodder for the usual suspects. My mum advised me to stick with Birds Eye! We've had lots of rain yesterday and today so am going to do a bit of winter sowing this evening if I can avoid the showers.
ReplyDeleteThunder, lightning and downpour here - our peas are filling nicely but we have been watering. The first sowings seem fine but we had difficulty getting subsequnt sowings to germinate - or at least that is what we thought but looking more closely we reckon something was nibbling the shoots as they arrived - not a problem we usually have.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo, hope your peas are better next time and you have a great holiday.
ReplyDeleteJo, I'm glad to hear you've had rain at last. We have had a good downpour also, and while I will have to repair the damage (mainly flattened plants) it is lovely not to water for once. I am heading for England in a few weeks, so hope I will be able to harvest a lot before I leave. While I hate to leave my garden, I can't wait to see my Mum and the ornament she won from you! Have a lovely holiday. Pam x
ReplyDeleteHi Jo, weve had very few peas here - partly the weather, partly me eating the pods beofre they get to the house. Have a great holiday. Freerangegirlx
ReplyDeleteWe are also going on holiday at the end of next week - and I'm fretting about the allotment etc while we are away. At least we don't have a greenhouse this year so that's one less thing to worry about!
ReplyDeletemy peas aren't so great his year either....I did succession sow and I am hoping that with the recent rain the second batch will be better....if you don't get to post before you go away I hope you have a good holiday!!
ReplyDeleteI just got some peas in the organic box and after eating them I SWORE I'd grow some next year. YUM. The rain did MOST of my garden some good, but a few plants didn't seem to like the wind very much. Bent branches galore. :( Hope they bounce back. Enjoy your holiday!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting and leaving a comment, Mrs Dobby. I'm glad that someone has had a good pea harvest this year, it seems as though it's been a bit of a muddled year this year for peas.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to have a big enough harvest to freeze, Vrtlarica. Sadly, I don't think our pea harvest will make it past a few dinners this year.
I think many people's peas have been a bit hit and miss this year, Caro. As we gardener's say, there's always next year.
I net my peas, Flighty. I think it would turn me off them for life if I found a creepy crawly inside the pods. We've had a few downpours here, including a thunder storm.
I'm sure they're not beyond you, Countrymummy. I don't think it's been a typical year this year, so don't give up on them.
We had the storm here too, Green Lane Allotments. I'm hoping that my next batch of peas are a little better than the first batch, fingers crossed.
Thanks, Damo. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a better second batch.
Thanks, Pam. I hope the weather here turns around again for your trip. I remember we had all the snow at the beginning of the year for your last trip. I'm sure you'll have some great harvests before you set off though.
Thanks, Freerangegirl. I love eating the peas straight from the pods too. I had to be restrained though with this batch as there wouldn't have been enough to cook for a meal if I'd eaten many beforehand.
I've got my dad coming round to look after my greenhouse while I'm away, Rachael. The allotment will have to look after itself, but the lottie neighbours are a good lot and will keep an eye on things for me. Hope you have a great time on your hols.
Thanks, Tanya. I'm sorry to hear that your peas aren't so good either. Lets keep our fingers crossed that we both get a better second batch.
Thanks, Monica. Fresh peas are so sweet, definitely worth growing. There has been a lot of wind mixed in with the rain, I hope your plants recover.
Inside a lot of my peas, were tiny wormy things eating away. What are they? You couldn't tell from the outside, otherwise I would have eaten the peas in their pods as they tasted nicer. My peas came out all mushy if you cooked them, so I took to picking them earlier so they looked a bit like mange tout and eating them. But the wormy things have put me off this idea somewhat.
ReplyDeleteHope you don't mind me butting in but they are probably pea moth maggots and are often found in peas I'm afraid. You can buy a biological control for it or cover plants with fleece to try to keep the moths off.
ReplyDeleteHope you don't mind me butting in but they are probably pea moth maggots and are often found in peas I'm afraid. You can buy a biological control for it or cover plants with fleece to try to keep the moths off.
ReplyDeleteIt will be the pea moth larvae, Elizabeth. I always net my peas and so far, have avoided this pest. It's important to practice crop rotation too as they overwinter in the soil. It would put me off peas for life if I found them in my peas, I'm squeamish like that.
ReplyDeleteI always net my peas, Green Lane Allotments. It seems to work fine, so far.
My peas have not done well either this year and I have put it down to the dry weather. Now we are having a very wet spell which is ironic as there is a hoespipe ban in this neck of the woods. Hope that you have a great holiday Jo.
ReplyDeleteMy peas have not done well either this year and I have put it down to the dry weather. Now we are having a very wet spell which is ironic as there is a hoespipe ban in this neck of the woods. Hope that you have a great holiday Jo.
ReplyDeleteIt is ironic, Anna. There's no hosepipe ban here at the moment, but as there is no water supply at the allotment it wouldn't affect me too badly. I only use a hosepipe rarely in the garden.
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