[KirpiParticipant]

Thanks Charles – that’s embarrassing! I did a google and of course they are described as a 3ft height. My fellow plotholder described them as a tall pea and I thought nothing of it.

I did also grow Serpette Guilloteau which did reach the 6ft mark and were very sweet albeit a bit on the small side.

I also didn’t do much about soil fertility as I was under the impression that peas fix their own nitrogen and looked after themselves. I will give attention to fertility next year and try those taller varieties you advise. Thank you.

[KirpiParticipant]

Depending on how friable the soil is (seed ready), I would be sowing early varieties of carrot (sow they mature within the time you have left) and then depending on your personal crop rotation you could sow kale still, salads, beetroot, spinach. How about spring cabbages?

Or – sow a green manure crop to harness what’s left of the sunshine and cut and compost it ready to top dress in spring. I like leguminous green manures as you can leave the roots in the bed with the nitrogen they fix for free and compost the top growth.

[KirpiParticipant]

Thank you Charles – my missus said something about peeling them, but I was trying to keep the goodness in the produce. Maybe try a few weeks later.

[KirpiParticipant]

I tried straw bale gardening elsewhere in the garden but was a failure and I am now using the straw to mulch my potatoes this year. No visible slugs in the dry layer but of course not sure yet what is happening below!
This is my last year of sheet composting – will be pre-composting from here on.

[Author]

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