May 2010
Peas

Normal garden peas (PISUM sativum) take the form of bush or climbing varieties. Bush peas are probably easier to grow because they don’t need trellising, and they are better if it’s the young pods you are after. For a family of four, five to six bushes is all you need for a constant supply of peas. Climbers are a good idea if there is vertical space that you’d like to fill, and they will then give a better yield per square metre.

There is also the mange tout, which is grown exclusively for its crisp sweet pods. French for 'eat the lot' or 'eat all', the name refers to the fact that the peas are eaten pod and all. Although the very small pods of any kind of pea can be eaten, the mange tout has pods that are larger and flatter, the pea seeds do not fill the pods and the pods are a lot less stringy (whereas the pods of garden peas have to be picked very young to avoid being stringy.)

The third type of pea that you can still plant in May is the flowering sweet pea. These are not for eating but for the sheer delight of their perfumed flowers. They can even be inter-planted with other climbing peas to bring colour into the vegetable garden.

Peas are good nitrogen fixers for the soil. When the growing season is over the plant can be cut at off at soil level, leaving the roots in the ground and the tops can be put on the compost heap. Alternatively the whole plant can be dug back into the bed as a green manure.

Health note
Peas contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, folic acid, B vitamins, potassium, zinc and iron. This combination of vitamins and minerals makes them an important tonic food that is good for keeping the immune system strong during winter.

Growing peas
All peas like plenty of winter sun and soil that drains well, but that has been well dug over and composted. Lime can be worked into the soil three to four weeks before planting.

When to sow
The sowing window for peas is quite wide and every area has its own ideal time. In the warm summer rainfall areas, also known as the Middleveld, the best time to sow is from April to June. In the cooler Highveld areas the ideal planting time is July to September. In the Lowveld and coastal KwaZulu-Natal March to June is best; in the Northern Cape and Karoo it is July and August; and in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands June and July. In the Eastern Cape and Klein Karoo May to July are the best months and in the Western Cape it is April to August.

Sowing
· Sow seed in single or in double rows 15 cm apart with a 75 cm to gap between the double rows. This makes it easy to work in between them.

· Make shallow drills and sow seed about 3 to 4 cm deep and about 5 cm apart.

· Keep the soil moist until the seed germinates, which takes two to three weeks.

· Because peas have a relatively short picking season, it is a good idea to sow a new batch every three weeks for an extended harvest. Another way to manage succession planting is to sow some seed in small pots at the same time as you sow seed in situ. Small pots are better than seedling trays as it gives the roots space to develop. Transplant the seedlings into the garden when they are big enough to handle and the process of transplanting will slow down development so that there is a two week difference between the two crops. The plants grown in the containers are often stronger than the in situ ones because they receive more attention, such as daily watering. Milk cartons or old coffee, jam or baked beans tins with holes punched in the bottom can be used instead of small pots.

Growing on
Thin out the seedlings to a final spacing of 40 cm between plants. Do not over water as damping off and foot rot are more prevalent in cold wet soil.

Support the stems by drawing up the soil around them once the plants have become bushy. Light mulch around the plants keeps the soil cool. Feed weekly with a liquid fertiliser when the plants start flowering.
Harvesting
Young pods can be harvested within two months or earlier to make sure the pods are tender. Mange tout peas should also be harvested early rather than later. Other than these, the first peas should be ready for harvesting within three months. The more you pick (at least twice a week) the better the production. When picking, hold the plant with one hand and remove the pod with the other.

Shoots and tendrils, to be used as garnishes for salads or in stir fries, can be harvested earlier. Bear in mind that harvesting the shoots retards the growth of the bush so if you intend to do this perhaps grow a few plants for this purpose and not as fruiting vegetables.

Diseases
Downy mildew can be troublesome in the Western Cape – Dithane WG should help; it can also be used for powdery mildew on the lower leaves.

Vegetables to sow in May
In most areas May is the last month for sowing these vegetables before winter: radishes, peas, broad beans, kale, lettuce and spinach. Also increase your stocks of lavender, lemon balm, mint, oregano, rosemary and thyme by taking cuttings.

Information supplied by Di-Di Hoffman of Bouquet Garni Nursery, potted herb grower and marketer. Visit Di-Di at www.gofoodgardening.com or phone him on 082 416 7145.