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kids grow peas

Growing peas with kids

Peas are easy to grow, even if you don't have much space. With two types of peas to grow - shelling peas, and edible podded ones, there's plenty of choice to make. Plus, freshly-picked peas, straight from the pod, are tasty and sweet (and much nicer than frozen ones from the supermarket.)

What you'll need:

  • • Pea seeds
  • • A patch of ground (or a deep container)
  • • Sticks or canes
  • • Netting to keep the birds off

Step 1: Sow your peas

hand sowing peas in groundSow your pea seeds
Image: Wstockstudio/ Shutterstock
  • • Sow pea seeds outside from March until June.
  • • Create a wide, flat trench - 5cm deep and 15cm wide. A hoe is useful for this.
  • • Sow your seeds 7.5cm apart and cover them with soil.
  • • Water them.

Step 2: Grow your peas

peas growing up garden canesGive them something to climb up
Image: Pete Turner/ Shutterstock
  • • Birds love to steal pea seeds! Cover them with netting until your peas start growing.
  • • Push twiggy sticks or garden canes into the ground so your plants can cling onto them. Peas like to climb!
  • • Water thoroughly once a week once your peas start to flower.

Step 3: Harvest your peas

peas in a pod being heldReady to harvest!
Image: Michelle Aleksa/ Shutterstock
  • • Your peas will be ready to harvest in 11-16 weeks, depending on the variety.
  • • Pods are ready to pick when they’re full of peas. Pick them regularly to keep new ones coming!
  • • Pick mangetout and sugar snaps peas just as the peas are starting to develop.

Popular pea varieties:

  • • Pea 'Bingo' - A heavy cropper, but don't eat the pods!
  • • Pea 'Kelvedon Wonder' - Throw the pods away!
  • • Pea 'Mangetout' - You can eat the whole thing, pods and all!
  • • Pea 'Rondo' - An excellent variety for freezing or eating freshly picked.

There's plenty more information in the downloadable guide. Print it out for more detailed instructions and even more pea facts!

Find more of our best pea and bean growing tips including variety specific guides and pest control pointers over at our pea and bean hub page.

  Click the image to download the full pdf guide  
 
growing peas with kids pdf
 

Banner image: Robert Jakatics/ Shutterstock

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