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General Information	Pea Troubles
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Pea
Sowing Time	Planting Time	Soil	Spacing	Cutting / Lifting Time	Storage	Cooking
The yield from a pea crop can often be disappointing. Ensure you read the seed packet before sowing and follow the instructions carefully. Never plant in cold, wet soil and protect from birds by using cotton between the rows or wire-mesh. Keep an eye on weeds and provide adequate support. Keep well watered during dry weather. Harvest when there are plenty of peas in the pod but before the pod becomes too crowded. Start at the bottom and work up to the top. Pick regularly to ensure subsequent yield. To dry peas, leave the pods on the plant to dry out or hang the plants indoors. Pick Mangetout when they are about 3ins long and the peas inside are just developing.
Depends on the type of crop. Refer to the seed packet.	n/a	A good, fertile soil is needed, not too acid. Don't add too much fertiliser. Grow in an open spot.	Depends on the type of crop. Refer to the seed packet.	Depends on the type of crop. Refer to the seed packet.	Can be kept in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to three days. To freeze: shell and blanch for 1mins. Cool and drain before freezing.	Boil for about 10mins in a small amount of water.

Pea Troubles
Trouble	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention
Anthracnose	Brown sunken spots on pods.	Destroy affect plants and spray remaining plants	Rotate crops
Bean Seed Fly	A soil living grub which attack seeds which then fail to germinate or produce distorted seedlings. Mainly affects early crops.	Destroy damaged seedlings	Ensure the seed bed is properly prepared and dust the drills with Chlorophos
Black Bean Aphid	Stunted growth, damaged flowers and distorted pods.	Spray at the first sign of attack and repeat if necessary	Pinch out the tops of broad beans once four trusses of pods have formed
Birds	Seeds and seedlings eaten and damage to pods and flowers	None	Place netting over crops
Botrytis (Grey Mould)	Grey velvety mould on pods.	Burn affected pods and spray remaining crop.	Spray at flowering time if this is a known problem
Chocolate Spot	Small brown spots on leaves and dark streaks along stems.	Lift and destroy diseased plants and spray remaining plants	Apply fertiliser prior to sowing and don't sow too close together
Downy Mildew	Yellow blotches on leaves with brown mould underneath. Pods are spotted and distorted.	Spray at the first sign of disease and repeat every fortnight if necessary.	Burn affected plants after picking. Rotate crops
Foot and Root Rot	Leaves turn yellow and shrivel. Roots and the base of stems turn black and rot.	Burn affected plants and water the soil with Cheshunt Compound to avoid spreading the disease	Rotate crops
Flowers (none)	Flowers not produced.	Can be caused by disease but most likely is caused by too much nitrogen in the soil	Always use a fertiliser with phosphates and potash
Fusarium Wilt	Stunted growth. Yellowing or rolled leaves. Little crop.	Burn affected plants.	Grow wilt resistant varieties
Grey Mould (Botrytis)	Grey velvety mould on pods.	Burn affected pods and spray remaining crop.	Spray at flowering time if this is a known problem
Halo Blight	Small brown spots surrounded by a yellow "halo" on the leaves. Stunted plants.	Lift and destroy diseased plants	Never soak seed and rotate crops
Leaf and Pod Spot	Brown sunken spots on pods. Discoloured peas.	Destroy affect plants and spray remaining plants	Rotate crops
Marsh Spot	Brown-lined cavity in the centre of peas caused by shortage of manganese.	None	Add compost prior to sowing and apply a sequestered compound
Mice	Will eat seeds and seedlings.	None	Dip seed in paraffin or alum, place spiny branches along the rows or use a normal mouse trap.
Pea Aphid	Stunted growth and damaged flowers.	Spray at the first sign of attack and repeat if necessary	None
Pea and Bean Weevil	U-shaped notches at the edges of leaves. Seedlings can be killed but older plants tend to recover.	Spray at the first sign of attack	Hoe around plants during April and May to prevent further attack
Pea Thrips	Silvery patches on leaves and pods. Pods distorted.	Spray at the first sign of attack	Remove infected plants and dig over the soil before replanting
Pea Moth	Pea moth maggots burrow through pods into seeds.	None	Spray just as the flowers appear
Pods (none)	No pods develop	The loss of flowers without producing pods is often caused by birds or bees but can also be caused by roots drying out	Keep roots moist and mulch
Powdery Mildew	White powdery patches on both sides of leaves. Pods are covered in white patches.	Spray at the first sign of disease and repeat every fortnight if necessary	Burn affected plants after picking
Seed Beetle	Small round holes appear which house the seed beetle grub. Seeds don't germinate or produce bad seedlings.	None	Buy good quality seeds and don't plant any which show signs of holes

General Information	Pea Troubles
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