Pea Seeds

Organic pea seeds - a quick guide

Growing peas from seed is a straightforward and hassle-free way to enjoy a delicious harvest of fresh garden peas and mangetout, from June right through to September or October. Here, we take a look at some of the basics of growing peas from seed.

How to grow organic peas from seed

In the weeks or months before sowing, dig plenty of organic compost or well-rotted manure into the site where you’re planning to plant your peas. If you’re planting shorter varieties, they should go 3 inches apart into a shallow flat-bottomed trench 2 inches deep – plant a triple row and use a few short canes for supports. For taller varieties, plant 3 inches apart in rows at least 1 foot apart, using canes strung with garden twine for your pea plants to grow up.

When to sow pea seeds

Peas need the soil to be around 10C or above to germinate and can go into the ground from as early as late February, provided the weather is suitable. Once germinated, your plants will grow quickly in the cool spring weather and should be ready for harvest by early June. Later, staggered plantings will result in more harvests throughout the summer and early autumn. For the earliest harvests, plant your pea seeds indoors during the winter, ready to plant out as young plants in the spring.

Pea pests and diseases

Peas tend to be largely trouble-free, but young plants are susceptible to slug and snail attack, as well as predation by mice, which love pea seedlings. Try a liberal sprinkling of chilli powder and/or holly bush prickles to help deter mice. Protective netting or horticultural fleece will protect your plants from air attack from birds – particularly pigeons – and also pea moths whose larvae attack the peas inside the pods. Attack by pea weevils will cause some notching of young leaves but should not do too much damage. Otherwise, keep an eye out for powdery mildew – adequate spacing of plants will aid with air circulation, making this less likely.