How to Grow
Peas & Beans

When to plant pea seeds and bean seeds is a crucial consideration. Consult the seed packets to unveil the optimal sowing periods tailored to each vegetable.

In general, pea seeds find their way into the outdoor soil from early April to early July, striking a balance between timing and climate. For runner and French beans, it's prudent to await the warming embrace of May before sowing them outdoors. Certain broad bean varieties, like Aquadulce and Claudia, can take root in the autumn earth, leading to earlier yields. Others, however, are better suited for planting from March onwards.

To ensure an extended harvesting period, aim to undertake multiple sowings of assorted pea and bean seeds.

For those yearning for an earlier bounty of peas and beans, kickstart the process by nurturing the seeds within a greenhouse about a month prior to their intended outdoor planting date. Allow them the opportunity to "harden off," adjusting to the outdoor conditions, before finally transplanting them into the awaiting soil.

Choose sunny, unobstructed spots with well-draining soil to sow your beans and peas. It's crucial to steer clear of cold or excessively damp soil when it comes to bean cultivation. To prevent the accumulation of pests and diseases, consider alternating the planting areas for peas and beans across your garden each year.

For optimal results, it's recommended to ready the soil in the preceding autumn or winter, giving it ample time to stabilize.

Incorporate well-decomposed compost or farmyard manure into the soil to enhance its texture and fertility. If dealing with acidic soil, introduce a lime application to elevate its pH level.

To bolster nutrient content, consider applying a gentle layer of all-purpose fertiliser a couple of weeks before sowing.

For those seeking to create a warmer environment, consider laying down polythene sheets a few weeks ahead of sowing to gently raise the soil temperature.

Begin by excavating a trench with a level base, measuring 5cm (2 inches) in depth and 15cm (6 inches) in width.

For peas, allocate a space of 7.5cm (3 inches) between each seed. Meanwhile, broad beans would thrive with a bit more room, so aim for 20cm (8 inches) spacing.

Gently conceal the seeds with soil, compact the earth to secure them, and affix labels for identification. Give the area a thorough watering.

Alternatively, if you prefer, you can initiate the process by sowing broad beans in compost-filled pots. After they have acclimated to outdoor conditions, transplant them into the ground. For peas, consider starting them off in compost-filled gutters. Once the young plants have reached a suitable size, transfer them into a trench you've prepared in the soil.

When considering early sowings, begin by positioning individual beans into petite compost-filled pots, ensuring a depth of approximately 5cm (2 inches).

Nurture them in a sheltered environment until the threat of frost has subsided. Once this happens, you can transplant them into the soil, leaving about 15cm (6 inches) of space between each bean. Aim for the plants to reach a height of around 7.5cm (3 inches) before this step. Make sure to gradually acclimate them to outdoor conditions before finalizing the transplantation.

Alternatively, you can choose to sow the beans directly into the ground once the soil has sufficiently warmed.

To ensure the proper growth of peas, runner beans, and climbing French beans, appropriate support structures are essential.

For shorter pea varieties, consider utilizing twiggy branches like hazel or specialized pea netting to encourage their upward growth. Taller pea varieties, on the other hand, benefit from bamboo canes coupled with netting.

For runner beans and climbing French beans, employ bamboo canes as a sturdy framework. These canes can be arranged in the form of A-frames or bound together to create a supportive wigwam structure, effectively guiding the beans' vertical ascent.