About
An early maincrop, annual climbing pea, to about 70cm high at picking. Ready for harvesting from June depending on sowing date, suitable for eating fresh or freezing. Heavy cropping, producing double pods with an average of 8 peas each, with good flavour.
About the genus
A very small genus of annual, flowering plants from legume family. Native to SW Asia and NE Africa, species P. sativum is widely cultivated for food. Hollow. Climbing or trailing stems bear compound leaves and tendrils. Flowers are butterfly-shaped, 1-3 per stalk. The fruit is a pod
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial, Climber Wall Shrub
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesBedding displays, containers, gap filling.
Care notes
CultivationSow in flat bottomed drills in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, and provide support. See the Grow Your Own pages on vegetable cultivation for more detailed advice
PruningPick regularly to encourage more pods to set
PropagationPropagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to mice, slugs and pea moths
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to pea wilt. This cultivar has some resistance to downy mildews and powdery mildews