For best results make sure the soil is well dug and has plenty of added moisture-holding material. Never sow in cold, wet soil. Liming may be necessary to produce an alkaline soil. Choose a position that gets plenty of sun.
The easiest way to sow is to dig out a flat-bottomed trench 5cm (2in) deep and 15cm (6in) wide. Then sow the seeds evenly in the trench approximately 7.5cm (3in) apart, cover with soil and lightly firm down. If you need a second row make this the expected height of the crop away from the first trench.
First earlies are sown from March to early June and will be ready to pick in 11 to 13 weeks.
Second earlies are sown from March to June and are ready in around 14 weeks.
Maincrop cultivars are sown at the same time and take up to 16 weeks.
Water well during dry periods and mulch the soil to preserve soil moisture.
Apart from dwarf cultivars, you will need to provide some support for the plants to scramble up. One of the easiest and most natural supports is to insert twiggy branches alongside the plants when they’re 7.5cm (3in) high. Pea netting is an alternative, but it's a nightmare to untangle the plants from it at the end of the growing season. Lightweight trellis and willow panels are attractive alternatives.
The one pest you want to be careful of is pea moth - whose presence you'll only notice when it comes to shelling your peas - the maggot will have got there first! Female moths lay their eggs just as the flowers fade and the pods are developing and this is the time to do something about it.
Pods are ready to harvest when they are well filled, when the pod is still fresh and green and hasn’t started to dry out. Pick regularly or the plants will stop producing.
Mangetout and sugar snaps peas should be picked when the pods are about 7.5cm (3in) long and the peas are just starting to develop.
