Gardening tips

Sowing peas

16 October 2025

Spring is the time to sow your peas. There are traditional pod peas, snow peas and sugar snap peas.

Using the side of your trowel or a hoe, or a niwashi to make a shallow seed drill the depth of your knuckle. Place the seeds in the seed drill in rows of three. Space the rows about a knuckle wide. All peas like to twine up on each other and this sowing method allows them to do this. Cover with soil. Peas take about 10 days to come up. They need to be moist but not wet. I cover my rows with twigs, to prevent the black birds from assuming that you have just laid on a worm feast for them.

30 October 2025

The peas have sprouted and are now 7 cm tall. Their leaves are a healthy deep green. They love the cool moist weather we are having at the moment. The weather is also great for transplanting seedlings. I have planted my first zucchini and buttercups. I grow most of my plants from seed because I am entranced by the wonder of the first tiny leaves.

Broad Beans

Broad Beans

Broad Beans are sown in June. They are ready now. Broad Beans beans have a bit of a bad rap, because people pick them when they are too old. Pick them when the beans are bright green. They can be used for stir fries, falafel, salads and pesto.