'Hurst Greenshaft' Pea Plants

Our vegetable plug plants are bred for good pest and disease resistance, but may still be susceptible to common problems. The three main issues affecting pea plants are pea moth, ea leaf weevil and powdery mildew. Rodents can also be an issue but they are mainly concerned with taking the pea seeds, which won’t be an issue if you buy them from Roots because we supply the plant as a plug. To prevent the pests you can cover your plants in a fine horticultural fleece. To prevent powdery mildew you should try and keep the plant dry and maintain good garden hygiene.

Peas need to be watered regularly so that the soil doesn't dry out. On hot summer days they'll need to be watered every day. If you are unsure, simply touch the soil and if it is dry to the touch a fingernail deep then give the plant some water. Until summer the UK rain should take care of the water your pea plants will need - you might even have to be careful the ground does not become waterlogged.

Pea plants prefer a position in full sun. Plant them where they will receive around 6-8 hours of direct sunlight every day.

Pea plants need fertile, well-draining soil. A good mix of three parts quality compost and one part topsoil works well. Peas in particular do not cope well in waterlogged soil so ensure there is adequate drainage, especially if your soil is clay-heavy. If possible, add a layer of well-rotted manure to the soil in the previous autumn and allow that to mix in to add nutrients and also improve the soil’s texture.

Pea plants are hungry and will need regular feeding. Once they have started flowering then you should promote pod growth by giving the plants a weekly feeding of a high-potash fertiliser such as organic liquid tomato feed. Potash, or potassium, is one of the three main elements in fertilisers along with nitrogen and phosphorus. Potash in particular supports growth of flowers and fruit and so this feed is often increased as the fruits or flowers are beginning to form.