March: Mangetout

I don’t bother growing peas, given the quality of frozen peas available, but compared to those insipid green things masquerading as mangetout in the supermarket, the homegrown version was a revelation, and I now sow three lots to keep me going over the summer, and I am about the sow the first batch. You don’t need very many plants - just 30 seeds, which gives a short row, gives two of us a couple of meals a week, picking them every other day.

The trouble with all the peas is that everything loves them, from mice to slugs to birds. I sow them in guttering, just one length, about 1cm/½" deep, but you could sow them in cells on a window sill. They can take a while to germinate, but then they shoot up. Keep them moist, and once they start to look leggy and want to fall over plant them out in the garden, pushing in twiggy sticks around them (you could use wire or plastic netting) and they will quickly get established and start twining round the twigs. You can also protect them with holly twigs, which will deter birds and mice, and sprigs of mint, which mice hate.

When the first flowers appear, the pods will shortly follow, and they grow in size at an amazing rate. I sow the next batch immediately, and they will be ready for picking just as the first lot are exhausted. You can of course grow peas in the same way.

Like beans, peas fix nitrogen in the soil, so cut them down when they have finished, rather than pulling them up, and leave the root in the ground.

Tip: sow radishes and turnips now if you have some sort of cover/cloche, or in growbags in a greenhouse or polytunnel. Start thinning the turnips and eat them when they are table tennis ball size - boil in water for 10 minutes, drain, halve and fry in butter - a delicious early crop.