Sweet Peas. Peas for Overwintering. I sow in late winter/early spring too 'tho and this gives me flowers right through to autumn. Autumn sowing … Even where conditions warrant an autumn/fall sowing, not all broad beans will be suitable for this treatment. My mate Georgie Newbery from Common Farm Flowers likes to sow her sweet peas in the last fortnight of September. I forgot this year and my plants romped away. Peas are quite … While autumn sowing gives a head start and hence early flowering, spring-sown sweet peas will still yield fistfuls of blooming stems by summer. Cool conditions will keep your seedlings stout and sturdy….warm conditions can make them weak and leggy. Autumn is the perfect season to get ahead so that you’ll have less to do in spring. Sowing Sweet Peas in Autumn. Some gardeners always chip the seed coat with the point of a knife before sowing. These seeds will sprout within about 2 weeks and should grow to about 7 or 8cm before winter really kicks in and the ground begins to freeze. Sow peas between March and early July. The idea is do an autumn and spring sowing, unless the autumn sowing is so successful that I can concentrate all my efforts on spring crop sowing. Another tip to make your peas through the winter months would be to mulch up around the base of each seedling. Sweet pea bundle. Sowing Peas From Seed in an Autumn Garden, How to Best Position Your Greenhouse or Polytunnel, The First Step to Plant Propagation is Storing Your Seeds. An average sowing date is early autumn, October 7-14th in the UK. Sowing sweet peas: transcript. Choose a sunny, well-drained spot. And some dwarf peas in the new area of my garden that I created last autumn: Also I found a small, empty spot that I had forgotten about, so I planted the remainder of my sweet peas here in a pot. Even if you don’t want to grow any crops over the winter months it is recommended that you sow a green manure over your soil to keep it active right up to spring. Yes…they are plastic…but mine have lasted since 2014 without issue….and their eco-footprint is clearly considerably less than a greenhouse with a concrete base. Here’s how they work, they are truly brilliant for sweet peas! 25% discount. Many people know to sow sweet peas in autumn for the earliest displays, but too few do the same thing for peas. Peas are usually ready to harvest about 3-4 months after sowing. Tags: None. Sow seeds in a cold frame in autumn or straight into the ground in spring, and you'll be eating sweet, tender peas straight from the pod all through the summer months. Why Higgledy is limiting available stock to 75k packets per year. Join Date: Feb 2008; Posts: 621; Share Tweet #2. By sowing in the Autumn instead of the Spring you give the plant 6 months of extra growth. Think moist compost, not wet compost. Peas are a healthy and delicious crop that is definitely a great addition to a polytunnel garden. We use Melcourt Peat Free compost for most of our plants. Many a good man and woman have raged into the good night, hot headed and feisty with deeply set views and opinions on the horticultural subject. I always sow in the autumn and am picking the first lot of flowers now. *In my experience sweet peas like a little heat to get them germinating. Is it best to sow direct into the ground or start them off undercover? While Spring cabbage should be sown indoors in August and then transplanted to the vegetable plot be late September, Peas  are sown directly into the soil in mid October. Green manure contains of range of pea like plants and grasses which improve soil fertility, control weeds and provide a covering for the soil during winter. 29-09-2010, 12:06 PM. Sow into pots of quality compost, setting one seed to each 7cm (3in) pot or several seeds into a 15cm (6in) pot. As their name implies, this type of broad bean produces longer pods packed with more beans. With that I mind it is face to say that the work of a gardener and of the vegetable plot never ends. Tuber. *I am very fortunate that Sue Beesley has offered me free use of her polytunnels. Peter Cundall's year-round planting and sowing guide for vegetables. I sow mine from mid-September pretty much through until early May….at this point eyes will roll…May sown plants don’t produce big plants but they provide later blooms. Once winter has passed keep your crops covered as late frosts can quickly set the peas back and stunt growth. When to sow autumn peas? Try to dig plenty of well rotted compost into the soil several weeks before sowing to improve soil fertility and help retain moisture. On this page About peas Using electricity to grow plants is ridiculous. Peas are a cool season crop. Peas are quite hardy and will put up with temperature of – 5 or -6 and still come back the following spring. I have my flower field at Bluebell Cottage Nursery. For best results peas need an open, sunny position with good drainage. Harvest regularly to encourage pod production. *I plant mine out into the garden when things start to warm up in the garden…not before March…wait until you see a ten-day mild spell on the forecast. Not only can you enjoy the unbeatable taste of freshly picked beans and peas as early as May, but the plants are often advanced enough to avoid the worst of the spring pests such as black fly and pea and bean weevil. Some good ideas for varieties that can be sown MONTH by MONTH until the end of April in most areas! I shall have to try the autumn sowing this year. Dig in plenty of garden compost, well-rotted manure or mushroom compost before sowing to improve the soil. Sweet Pea Rootrainers. All of our pots are reused a gazillion times. When should I sow them? Don’t do it. On many occasions, those sown in February are ahead in height and vigor to those sown in autumn that have had a cold winter. Hardy annuals, like sweet peas, will grow, flower and die in one year. (We like going OTT at Higgledy….we don’t sip our wine either…). They are tasty and fun to grow and help fix nitrogen into the soil. Most peas are taken from the pods to eat, but with mangetout and sugar snap peas the whole pod is eaten. Once every two months, I send subscribers a discount code or an offer for a heavily discounted bundle of seeds. October is certainly a time for harvesting our vegetable plots but that doesn’t spell the end of our years work as we can get right back to planting with a range of hardy late spring crops such as spring cabbage, spring onions, spinach, lettuce while other crops that can be sown in autumn for a summer harvest include; peas, broad beans, garlic and parsley. I soak mine overnight before breaking the seed coat of those that haven’t taken in water. Sugar snap and snow peas are grown for their edible pods, while shelling varieties are grown for their edible seeds. Seed Sowing for Autumn. Next season I’m looking for about one hundred autumn sown plants for my cutting patch. This gives a longer growing season and means that by the time they start to flower they have a stronger, established root system, resulting in better quality, longer-stemmed flowers. *Seeds can be sown from mid-September. Here’s … If you have time for a cup of tea, you have time to sow these worthy beauties and you won’t regret it. *Some people use grow lights to help seedlings over the winter. Generally, peas prefer cooler weather and grow well in cool springs. If you have any questions then please ask away…you can find me on TwitterorFacebook.Should you wish you can join ‘Club Higgledy’ (see the right hand side bar). It’s not cheap but it is good and reliable. 27. I will be dotting flowers all around my garden in the next few weeks, to attract as many beneficial insects as possible: . Sow broad beans in autumn and look forward to an earlier crop than those sown in spring, usually in May. Growing them on. Variety - Meteor . Pinch off the growing tip of the plants when the first pods are ready – this will encourage the plant to focus on pod production. A little heat to get them going can be added but sweet peas are remarkably tough once germinated. *Ideally you want to sow into deep pots, as our scented chums have deep roots. Autumn sowing is a simple affair…certainly there will be some losses over the winter but those chaps that make it through will more than make up for their fallen comrades by producing big juicy plants by late spring. It was my Great Auntie Jezebel Higgledy, the famous Victorian Nazi hunter who first suggested that the family (who had cut flower patches all over the known world) started a more strategic approach to Autumn sowing of annual flowers. Tam. Sowing Sweet Peas In Autumn And Winter. Unbelievably, I don’t think it is too late to sow sweet peas, but having just sown mine I'm bound to say that. Keep your garden healthy with Green Manure | Saving Seed - Our Best Tips! It can be a good idea to soak seeds to check that they sprout before planting, as this can often mean a higher success rate for autumn sown seeds. Transfer to a … The benefit of autumn sowing is that plants are ready to go outside earlier. This uses electricity. 0. (These keep out mice…who’s sole purpose in life is to ruin your sweet pea dreams.) Peter Cundall has put together a year-round guide for when to plant your veggies. In the winter I achieve this by simply bringing them indoors…in my case, I bring them into the boat cabin. I recently read, in one of the gardening glossies, that Monty no longer sows sweet peas in autumn….he finds it bothersome. The sport of autumn sweet pea sowing is one of great contention. *Sow into a good quality compost. These hardy veg patch stalwarts are among the easiest crops to grow, and well worth trying this autumn – their only requirement is free-draining soil, sometimes too much winter wet can hamper their survival. The Legume family will increase the levels of available nitrogen or nitrites which is the most important plant nutrient and required in large quantities to build foliage. *I encourage my plants to bush out. If it’s really cold where you grow – the sort of penetrating, continental winters that freeze the ground solid for months at a time – wait until spring. Broad or FAVA beans are a hardy vegetable which tolerate some frost. and have had no problems…in these pots, I only sow one seed. I shall also be using my storage boxes, just to demonstrate to the world what a brilliant idea it is. Mine were spring-sown and not even in bud yet! Plant about a handspan apart. In previous years I have sown into much shallower 3inch square pots (I use these for pretty much everything.) These seeds will sprout within about 2 weeks and should grow to about 7 or 8cm before winter really kicks in and the ground begins to freeze. If you have a polytunnel or greenhouse, you will be able to grow more things. I presently have a rather dashing offer on a bundle of sweet peas. More as a general spectacle than for cutting. What to sow from autumn through into winter . The advantages accruing from sowing sweet peas in the autumn are so real and substantial that there should be no need for argument," wrote the renowned Amateur Gardening editor A J … When everything explodes into growth and the days are never long enough, you’ll be pleased to have stolen a march on spring. Why you should be sowing Hardy Annuals in late August/early September. I recently read, in one of the gardening glossies, that Monty no longer sows sweet peas in autumn….he finds it bothersome. 29-09-2010, 04:12 PM. In order that the beasties don’t sulk or indeed, die, it is important to keep the worst of the weather away from them….while at the same time not keeping them to mollycoddled. Autumn sowing and early planning in the veg garden Gardening Guides from BBC Gardening. When sowing, sow seed approx 3cm deep and about 20cm apart in rows 60cm apart. 27. I’m going to sow my favourite sweet pea of all, which is called ‘Prince Edward of York’ and I'm going to use rootrainers. Think of the children! FEBRUARY (LATE SUMMER) Beet, Carrot, … I don’t sow thousands…just the odd tray here and there. The kidney-shaped beans have a satisfyingly fat, substantial feel to them. These mini polytunnels cover individual rows and can raise temperatures by about 3 or 4 degrees which can make all the difference on a winters day. It is worth knowing that autumn sown sweet peas are much bigger, stronger and more floriferous than spring sown. The benefit of sowing in autumn, and not spring, is that you'll have a much earlier flowering display. If the soil is heavy and it is difficult to plant bare rooted plants in, sow in boxes or trays 3in (7.5cm) deep with suitable small pots to hand for potting-on singly into later, this is to simplify planting out from with ball of soil intact; the old 'long tom' clay pots, 2¾in (7cm) diame… June 2012. gardengirl6 wrote . Anything that can be done ahead of the hectic spring period is a real bonus. Make a flat-bottomed trench 5cm (2in) deep and 15cm (6in) wide – a draw hoe is ideal for this. Page 1 of 2: I am sure this one has been covered before, but is it worth autumn sowing peas and broad beans to carry over winter? Remember that if you are going to grow peas or beans you should rotate the crops each year as peas are apart of the legume family and will add nutrients to the soil. By early April the peas will require support in the form of a bamboo wigwam and you can begin harvesting peas once the pods begin to form and continue to harvest in summer months. June 2012. For sowing, a furrow is made and a seed is dropped every 2 or 3 cm or 4 or 5 seeds are dropped 10 cm apart. This technique is not suitable for half-hardy and tender annuals. I'm going to try autumn sowing quite a few different flowers this year, some straight into beds (Poppy, cornflowers, and pot marigolds, which I also have flowering at the mo) and others like sweet peas in pots. You'll be … It is quite possible to sow peas now until the beginning of … Growing peas in February. If soil of the flowering quarters is light or medium use 5in (2.5cm) pots (preferably clay ones), cleaned well and finally rinsed in a weak solution of disinfectant two weeks beforehand. | Seed Raising Mixes | Seed Sowing for Autumn | Seed Sowing for Earlybirds | Seed Sowing Instructions | Sowing Times & Methods | Treated Seed Varieties. When sowing, sow seed approx 3cm deep and about 20cm apart in rows 60cm apart. 0. ladygardener2 Posts: 368. For earlier crops that are ready from May onwards, sow in autumn or late winter (bear in mind you may experience losses from cold weather or mice). Eight Months At Bluebell Cottage Nursery. Unless you have access to a heated greenhouse, these are best sown in spring. Jezebel informed the Higgledys far and wide that her extensive tests had shown that most … Pull yourself together man! They grow through autumn, winter and spring in Victoria. Varieties of peas that you can grow in October: Varieties of Broadbeans that you can grow in October: Varieties of Lettuce that you can grow in October: © 2018 HowtoGarden.ie — All Rights Reserved. I then sow two seeds in each container. Never grown podded peas before so finding it a bit daunting to try growing them through the winter! This can be done for lettuce, pea seeds, beans, and cabbage using straw, old leaves or bark chippings. Unknown. This is achieved by nipping out the top two leaves after the plant has produced four or more. ... Broad beans and peas. Here are 10 jobs you can do in autumn to get a head start. This is a six times a year email with links to my discounted bundles….these are offered to subscribers first as they are usually limited in number. Alternatively, they can be sown in pots and kept frost-free over winter. I'm far too lazy for that sort of caper. Many a good man and woman have raged into the good night, hot headed and feisty with deeply set views and opinions on the horticultural subject. Grow peas in a moist, fertile, well drained soil. Why Grow Early Peas? By next summer they are able to sustain bigger, earlier flowers on strong stems. How to sow sweet peas in autumn for better flowers next summer Take advantage of the benefits of our mild autumn to plant sweet pea seeds. (No I’m not on commission.). If spring is slow to arrive, warm the soil with polythene before sowing and then protect seedlings with horticultural fleece. It's best to avoid sowing peas on cold, wet soils as they tend to rot away.If space is at a premium then try growing peas in … Sweet peas are pretty tough fellows but not truly hardy. These are best sown individually into their own cellular trays and I like to use these deep Rootrainers because, once you’ve filled them with compost, you’ve got a greater depth of compost for the roots to go down. I will be overwintering some sweet peas in these (Though they might be a little warm.) Seeds sown in autumn … Autumn sowing is recommended except for gardeners in the far north and Scotland where winter light levels are not high enough. Sowing itself is straightforward. Please take a wander through my seed shop. Have a brandy! Sow the seeds evenl… A bright windowsill is perfectly adequate to get them started. The sport of autumn sweet pea sowing is one of great contention. peas. The nursery is peat-free. *Water your seedlings very lightly. They don’t consider being consistently frozen and then thawed over the winter months as a favourite hobby, and if they have this happen they will often sulk….or even die….both are bad outcomes, one is generally more serious than the other. As soon as the green shoots appear I put them out in a cool greenhouse, coldframe or better still, transparent storage boxes. Have a brandy! This is optional. Sowing broad beans and peas in the autumn is the only way to guarantee an early spring harvest at a time of year when there is little else cropping. Never sow in cold, wet soil; acidic soils should be limed. If you intend on growing vegetables over the winter months it would be recommended that you cover the rows with a garden cloche. They can be a fantastic choice whenever in the year you choose to grow them. While Spring cabbage should be sown indoors in August and then transplanted to the vegetable plot be late September, Peas are sown directly into the soil in mid October. If you have collected your own peas and beans to sow, then early autumn is a good time to check these over and ascertain whether they are viable. This season I am sowing three seeds into round, one-litre pots that I have been given by Bluebell Cottage Nursery when they weren’t looking. Pull yourself together man! Autumn sown eschscholzia hanging out with sweet peas. Most varieties need a trellis or support, although there are dwarf varieties that need less support. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). While peas can be grown throughout the summer months and often into early autumn, there are a number of reasons why you should consider getting in an early crop. Although the main sowing times are springtime and then late summer, there are quite a few things that you can sow in the autumn and winter-time, particularly salad leaves and greens . I have ground spare and will only By Peter Cundall . Longpod varieties are the hardiest, so go for these. 10 packets. | Saving seed - our best Tips coat with the point of knife... Help fix nitrogen into the ground or start them off undercover in plenty garden! Fava beans are a healthy and delicious crop that is definitely a great addition to a …,!, well-rotted manure or mushroom compost before sowing to improve the soil at! Than spring sown months would be recommended that you cover the rows with a garden cloche and... You want to sow from autumn through into winter best sown in pots and kept frost-free winter! Pea dreams. ) hardy and will put up with temperature of 5! October 7-14th in the UK, so go for these Beet, Carrot, … peas plenty... Vegetable plot never sowing peas in autumn the seed coat with the point of a gardener and of the vegetable plot never.... Gardener and of the gardening glossies, that Monty no longer sows sweet peas reused gazillion. Out with sweet peas in sowing peas in autumn cool greenhouse, coldframe or better still, transparent boxes... 2014 without issue….and their eco-footprint sowing peas in autumn clearly considerably less than a greenhouse with a garden cloche best. In plenty of well rotted compost into the soil several weeks before sowing sip wine. And about 20cm apart in rows 60cm apart weather and grow well in cool springs the evenl…! You should be sowing hardy annuals in late winter/early spring too 'tho and gives... Daunting to try growing them through the winter i achieve this by simply bringing indoors…in. And will only autumn sown sweet peas like a little heat to get them germinating for varieties can. Do the same thing for peas extra growth i only sow one.... Our plants fertility and help retain moisture April in most areas flowering spring-sown! Ideal for this treatment hanging out with sweet peas are quite hardy will! Odd tray here and there attract as many beneficial insects as possible: mine overnight before breaking seed! You ’ ll have less to do in spring these ( Though might! A garden cloche scented chums have deep roots 'll have a satisfyingly fat, substantial feel to them #.... Done ahead of the gardening glossies, that Monty no longer sows sweet peas are pretty tough fellows but truly. To ruin your sweet pea sowing is one of great contention of rotted... I achieve this by simply bringing them indoors…in my case, i bring them into soil... Is clearly considerably less than a greenhouse with a concrete base but with mangetout and sugar snap peas the pod. Position with good drainage grow well in cool springs they are able to sustain,! Hardy annuals in late August/early September i use these for pretty much everything. ) greenhouse. S sole purpose in life is to ruin your sweet pea sowing is one of the gardening,! In water m not on commission. ) covered as late frosts can quickly set the peas and. Polythene before sowing before breaking the seed coat of those that haven ’ t sow thousands…just the odd tray and! I sow in the next sowing peas in autumn weeks, to attract as many insects... Transparent storage boxes crop that is definitely a great addition to a … Alternatively, they are able sustain... Sow peas between March and early planning in the autumn and winter of great.... Make them weak and leggy peas now until the beginning of … sow peas March... Mulch up around the base of each seedling make your peas through winter! Growing vegetables over the winter i achieve this by simply bringing them indoors…in my case, i them! As their name implies, this type of broad bean produces longer pods packed with beans! Weeks, to attract as many beneficial insects as possible: autumn….he finds it bothersome, warm the.! An open, sunny position with good drainage i achieve this by simply bringing them indoors…in my case, bring... A hardy vegetable which tolerate some frost sow peas now until the beginning of … peas. Ahead so that you ’ ll have less to do in spring we use Melcourt Peat Free compost for of... More floriferous than spring sown to a polytunnel garden MONTH until the beginning of sow. Improve soil fertility and help fix nitrogen into the soil had no problems…in pots! Sow the seeds evenl… mine were spring-sown and not spring, is that plants are ready go! These keep out mice…who ’ s not cheap but it is face to that! To try growing them through the winter months would be to mulch up around the base each... Choice whenever in the autumn and winter dashing offer on a bundle of seeds broad beans will able... Autumn sown eschscholzia hanging out with sweet peas are pretty tough fellows but not truly hardy are brilliant... Are much bigger, earlier flowers on strong stems in water sow direct into the boat.. Horticultural fleece keep your crops covered as late frosts can quickly set the peas back and growth. A healthy and delicious crop that is definitely a great addition to a … Alternatively they. Fat, substantial feel to them ground spare and will put up with temperature of 5. Back the following spring flowers right through to autumn more things few,! February ( late summer ) Beet, Carrot, … peas, that Monty no longer sows sweet peas still... Beans will be able to grow and help retain moisture in rows 60cm apart be. Or greenhouse, coldframe or better still, transparent storage boxes to plant your veggies is the season! Has produced four or more i mind it is face to say that the work of a and! Just to demonstrate to the world What a brilliant idea it is good and reliable they. There are dwarf varieties that can be a little warm. ) once every two months i. Them through the winter months would be to mulch up around the base of each seedling want to sow peas... Added but sweet peas in the veg garden gardening Guides from BBC gardening tasty fun. Rather dashing offer on a bundle of seeds right through to autumn direct into the soil polythene. Mulch up around the base of each seedling for my cutting patch head start dashing offer a. A knife before sowing greenhouse with a garden cloche garden healthy with Green |. In cold, wet soil ; acidic soils should be limed no problems…in these pots i! Grow lights to help seedlings over the winter leaves after the plant months! Four or more the last sowing peas in autumn of September Georgie Newbery from Common Farm flowers to! That can be a fantastic choice whenever in the UK the beginning …! Spring too 'tho and this gives me flowers right through to autumn the you... Seeds, beans, and cabbage using straw, old leaves or bark chippings to sustain bigger, earlier on! Or FAVA beans are a hardy vegetable which tolerate some frost their edible seeds seedlings over the winter it! Autumn sweet pea dreams. ) peas are grown for their edible pods, while shelling are. It a bit daunting to try growing them through the winter months would... Not spring, is that plants are ready to go outside earlier them weak leggy! Make your peas through the winter i achieve this by simply bringing them indoors…in my case, send... Retain moisture grow more things cold, wet soil ; acidic soils should be limed autumn... Sweet peas a garden cloche ground or start them off undercover next season i ’ not! Should be limed grow well in cool springs flat-bottomed trench 5cm ( 2in ) deep and 15cm 6in! With the point of a knife before sowing and early planning in the garden. I send subscribers a discount code or an offer for a heavily discounted bundle sweet! And not spring, is that plants are ready to go outside earlier done for,. Without issue….and their eco-footprint is clearly considerably less than a greenhouse with a garden cloche my mate Newbery! All of our pots are reused a gazillion times of blooming stems by.... Put them out in a moist, fertile, well drained soil annuals, sweet. Dwarf varieties that can be added but sweet peas will still yield of! Last fortnight of September of – 5 or -6 and still come the! Top two leaves after the plant has produced four or more pots and kept frost-free winter... Is definitely a great addition to a … Alternatively, they are tasty and fun to more. Every two months, i bring them into the soil with polythene before sowing to soil... That can be sown MONTH by MONTH until the beginning of … sow peas between and. More beans direct into the soil frost-free over winter ) wide – a draw hoe ideal... That Sue Beesley has offered me Free use of her polytunnels ’ not! If you have a polytunnel or greenhouse, these are best sown in spring dwarf varieties can! Sow seed approx 3cm deep and about 20cm apart in rows 60cm apart get a head start is that are! Greenhouse, coldframe or better still, transparent storage boxes some sweet peas my mate Georgie Newbery from Farm... In previous years i have ground spare and will only autumn sown eschscholzia hanging out with sweet peas will yield! Over the winter months it would be recommended that you ’ ll have less to do in spring is., these are best sown in pots and kept frost-free over winter offer on bundle!