How to Grow Mangetout
'Carouby de Maussane' from Seed
A Provençal heirloom climbing to nearly two metres, covered in maroon and pink-purple flowers, then large, flat, sweet pods eaten whole.
'Carouby de Maussane' is named for a village in Provence and is one of the most beautiful vegetables you can grow. It climbs to nearly two metres and covers itself in two-toned flowers: deep maroon standards above soft pink-purple wings. If the pods never came you would still want it.
The pods do come, and they are the reward: large, flat, sweet and tender, eaten whole in the French manner rather than shelled. Steam them, stir-fry them, add them to salads, or eat them raw off the vine.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Crop Type
Climbing mangetout, heirloom
Sowing Time
March to July
Harvest
June to October
Height
Nearly 2m
Pick Pods At
6 to 8cm
Difficulty
2 out of 5, easy
Understanding the Crop
'Carouby de Maussane' is an open-pollinated heirloom mangetout, Pisum sativum var. saccharatum. Mangetout peas are grown for their flat, stringless pods, picked before the peas inside swell.
Tall and vigorous, it earns a place in ornamental potagers and cottage gardens as well as the vegetable plot.
Give it proper support
This is not a twiggy pea-stick job. It wants a trellis, a wigwam of long canes, netting on a strong frame, or a fence to scramble up.
When & How to Sow
Sow from March to July. Sow direct once the soil warms, or start early sowings in pots under cover.
Paper pots for early starts
For March sowings, sow two seeds per paper pot or deep module under cover, and plant the whole pot out so roots are not disturbed.
Put up support first. Set a trellis, netting or cane wigwam at least 1.8m tall before sowing.
Sow along the base. Sow 5cm deep and 7 to 10cm apart along the support. Seedlings appear in one to two weeks.
Guide young shoots. Protect from birds and slugs, and guide young tendrils onto the support.
Growing On Tips
Tall frame
Plants reach nearly 2m, so use a sturdy trellis, fence or cane wigwam.
Ornamental value
Maroon and pink-purple flowers make it worth placing where you can see it.
Pick young
Pick pods at 6 to 8cm, before peas swell, and pick every couple of days.
Water at flowering
Keep soil moist once flowering starts to keep pods tender.
Pollinators
Bees visit the flowers throughout the season.
Later sowings
A June or July sowing extends picking into October.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Pods tough or stringy | Picked too late | Pick at 6 to 8cm before peas swell. |
| Plants collapse | Support too short or weak | Use a strong frame at least 1.8m tall. |
| Seeds don't come up | Mice or cold, wet soil | Start early sowings in pots under cover. |
| White powder on leaves | Powdery mildew | Water in dry spells and ensure good air flow. |
| Young shoots eaten | Pigeons, slugs and snails | Net and protect seedlings. |
When to Harvest
Pick from June to October depending on sowing date. Harvest pods young at 6 to 8cm, while still flat, and keep picking to encourage more.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Sow | ||||||||||||
| 🫘 Harvest |
Crop Specifications
Beautiful flowers, then sweet flat pods
Give it a tall frame, sow from spring into summer, and enjoy both a floral display and months of tender mangetout.
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