STILL A DEMAND FOR HOME-GROWN PEAS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31837, 15 November 1968, Page 6

STILL A DEMAND FOR HOME-GROWN PEAS

Although frozen and canned peas are readily available at reasonable cost throughout the year there is still a widespread appreciation for the home-grown crop, particularly early in the season.

Although the seed germinates readily under all but dry conditions, peas suffer badly from birds, insects and disease from the moment that they are sown until they are a good few inches high. For this reason it is most definitely a wise move to use only treated seed and also to provide some sort of overhead protection in the form of netting or perhaps cotton thread. Peas flourish satisfactorily in most soils providing that they do not remain dry for long periods. However they do not thrive in acid conditions, and respond best to lighter loams well endowed with organic matter which have been limed beforehand. Annual rotation of the crop should be practised as well. Mention has been made of the importance of using treated seed. In the event of having untreated ones on hand these can be safeguarded by dipping in. or coating with, thiram which is both a bird repellent and

fungicide. A mixture of kerosene and red lead will give protection against birds and mice. The seed should be sown thinly in drills not less than one inch deep but spacing is somewhat optional, much depending on the variety and number of rows to be sown. A good method is to put in double rows 3 inches apart, thus allowing the plants to provide each other with some support.

Although even tall varie- . ties will yield well without support, both short and tall . ones are greatly benefited by some form of support. A very ■ satisfactory means of holding the pea crop above the ground can be accomplished with 8 to 10 guage wire and wire netting. The wire is cut 1 into lengths 2ft to 3ft long and the ends are pushed into the ground on either side of i the rows to form an arch over them. The wire netting is draped over the hooped wire and the developing peas are thus given initial protection and then support as they grow through the netting. Trellises, vertically supported netting, sticks and brush wood are alternative means of providing the same thing. Moisture is important in order to obtain satisfactory' yields from peas but the

greatest need occurs at petal fall—so per cent increase has been obtained from application at this stage of only * inch of water. By watering at commencement of flowering it is possible to induce greater pod production and increase the number of peas to a pod.

Correct choice of varieties can provide considerable continuity of cropping. Amongst the first early varieties are such well known ones as William Massey (Kelvedon Wonder). Little Marvel and Early Bird which are all relatively dwarf growing. Greenfeast and Onward provide good second early crops while the former can be utilised for main cropping along with such varieties as Victory, Aiderman, Admiral Beauty and Stratagem. To provide a good spread from a single sowing Massey, Onward, Greenfeast and Stratagem will prove a satisfactory combination. Greenfeast, which has been one of the most popular of all varieties, is likely to be superseded soon by a new release. Greenfeast 68, a wilt-resistant line which is also immune to pea topyellow virus and pea mosaic virus.