How to Grow Pea
'Hurst Greenshaft' from Seed
The British maincrop classic: long dark pods of nine or ten sweet peas, carried in pairs at the top of the plant. RHS Award of Garden Merit, with good disease resistance.
'Hurst Greenshaft' is the pea for anyone who has eaten a pod straight off the plant and suddenly understood why gardeners bother. It is the British maincrop classic, with long dark pods holding nine or ten sweet peas each and an RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Pods are carried in pairs at the top of the plant rather than buried in foliage, which makes picking quick and pleasant, with no missed pods going woody out of sight. It also carries useful resistance to fusarium wilt and downy mildew, the two problems most likely to spoil a pea crop.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Crop Type
Maincrop shelling pea, RHS AGM
Sowing Time
March to June
Harvest
June to September
Peas per Pod
9 to 10
Resistance
Fusarium wilt, downy mildew
Difficulty
2 out of 5, easy
Understanding the Crop
'Hurst Greenshaft' is a British-bred, open-pollinated maincrop shelling pea, Pisum sativum. It is a mid-height variety that climbs by tendrils and needs support.
Peas are legumes and add nitrogen to the soil. After the last picking, cut plants at ground level and leave the roots in place.
If peas have struggled before
Fusarium wilt and downy mildew are the most common reasons a pea crop fails just as it starts to crop. This variety's resistance makes it the one to try on ground where peas have disappointed.
When & How to Sow
Sow direct from March to June once the soil has warmed a little. Sowing every three or four weeks gives a longer picking season.
Guttering method
For early sowings in cold, wet soil, sow into compost in a length of guttering under cover, then slide the whole row into a shallow trench once seedlings are 8cm tall.
Make a flat trench. Dig a flat-bottomed trench 5cm deep and about 15cm wide.
Sow in a staggered band. Space seeds about 5 to 7cm apart in two or three staggered lines, cover, firm and water. Seedlings appear in one to two weeks.
Protect and support. Cover against birds and mice, and put up pea sticks or netting as soon as seedlings emerge so tendrils can grip.
Growing On Tips
Early support
Pea sticks or netting from emergence keep plants upright and pods clean.
Water at flowering
Water well once flowers appear and while pods fill.
Bird protection
Pigeons love young pea shoots. Net until plants are established.
Mulch
A mulch along the row keeps roots cool and moist in summer.
Pick often
Regular picking encourages more pods.
Pollinator friendly
Flowers attract bees while the crop develops.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Seeds don't come up | Mice or cold, wet soil | Protect the row, or start early sowings in guttering. |
| Shoots stripped | Pigeons | Net seedlings until established. |
| Maggots inside pods | Pea moth | Cover midsummer flowering plants with fine mesh, or sow early or late. |
| White powder on leaves | Powdery mildew late in season | Keep plants watered and pick promptly. |
| Tough, starchy peas | Left too long | Pick while pods are full but still bright and glossy. |
When to Harvest
Pods are ready around 12 weeks after sowing. Pick when they are well filled but still glossy, starting at the top of the plant, and pick every couple of days.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Sow direct | ||||||||||||
| 🫘 Harvest |
Crop Specifications
Sweet peas straight from the pod
Sow a row every few weeks from March, give it support and water, and pick pairs of plump pods all summer.
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