Winter Life in the Polytunnel

You remember back in November I sowed some heirloom broad beans (aquadulce claudia) and peas (Feltham First)? They all germinated in the seed trays, and when they were a couple of inches tall I planted them out in the polytunnel. Growth is naturally extremely very slow this time of year, but they are coming on nicely nevertheless.

Last week I planted another tray of beans (more aquadulce but also Express) and peas (more Feltham plus Hurst Green Shaft) and I'll continue to do that now every three weeks until mid July (or roughly 60 days before your first frosts are generally expected). The 'official' word for planting a few of something every two or three weeks is 'successional' sowing. The point of it is that as each batch reaches maturity at slightly staggered times and so the harvest is stretched out over a long period rather than having a sudden glut of beans or peas all at once. This is the first year I've been organised enough to bother with the successional sowing approach so I'm interested to see what difference it makes. I hope that there is still enough of a glut to put some in the freezer for next winter.

Last years bean plants

And the pest that causes the greatest danger to these particular plants? My children! Actually the fact that they sneak in and chew pods right off the plant is what its all about and although I sometimes pretend to be a bit annoyed about it, secretly I'm delighted ... delicious fresh food for the family and children understanding where it comes from, and assuming its not all grazed before it reaches the kitchen ... how to cook it.

You don't have to live on a rural smallholding to grow peas and beans. They are ideal for a small urban garden because they climb upright and so take up minimal space. Children love to get involved with this too.  Five or six plants of each and you have a very impressive crop on your hands, its even worth it even you only have space for two plants of each. Plant the seeds mid March, (in Ireland traditionally on St Patricks day 17th, or the equinox on 21st) one seed to each cell of a seed tray. Keep indoors on a south facing window sill, watered but not soggy. They should sprout in a week or so. When a couple of inches high put them outside during the day, take indoors at night for two or three days. This is called 'hardening off', it allows the plant to acclimatize to outdoor temperatures. Then you can plant them into the soil next to a fence or tie onto poles/sticks for them to climb up. Peas have tendrils and will eventually cling, beans have none and need to be tied gently with string to their supports.

Comments

[Greg]

Great idea on staggering your planting times. I will do that with my garden this year in hopes of getting a longer picking season. Another good reason to do this is because I push the planting time. I will plant when there is still a danger of a last minute frost. If I do get caught, at least I will only loose a few plants.

[Wild Rose]

I think that it is great that your children are growing up knowing where food comes from. Many children have no idea of the origin of their food beyond the local supermarket.

Marie x

[Vallen Queen]

Do you have little notes attached to everything reminding you when and what to do with the plants. I would be in a muddle trying to remember which plants to harden off, how much water, when to put them in the ground. It is just bewildering to me how you do it.

[Jo Allen]

Thanks Sally. I'll begin sucessional sowing of my Hurst Green Shaft on March 21s. Am putting into Microsoft Outlook now!

[Rebecca (author of Sallygardens)]

I put notes on my calendar to remind me each month what I should be doing. I also read back over my gardening magazines each month from last year that I subscribed to. Last but not least I'm typing up a reminder list on the PC which I can print out each year for filling in the calendar every January!

Good idea Greg, if I have seeds left I'll do that too ... keep sowing till the frosts actually hit, nothing to lose.

[Patsy]

Hi
Im new to planting peas (my son wants to grow them), and iv been told that hurst greenshaft are the best. Can anyone tell me where i can get them please?