Pea Seeds (Greenshaft)

Greenshaft or Half Pint are a very high yielding variety of garden pea with excellent flavour. The long dark green pods each carry about 10 sweet peas. The pods will mostly be found towards the top half of the plant so are quite easy to harvest. Perfect for freezing or eating fresh.

Peas are also a fantastic veg to grow with kids, as it gives them the chance to eat peas raw – which, in our experience, they absolutely love.

• Each seed pack contains 100 seeds.

Visit the GIY Veg directory for more growing details and tips.

Peas will grow in most reasonable soil. They don’t require any nitrogen fertiliser, as they take in nitrogen from the air via bacteria in their roots. If adding a general fertiliser use one that is low in nitrogen.

Peas are usually sown direct into the soil, but can be transplanted from modules. If sowing in modules sow 1-3 seeds per module.

Seeds can be sown from March and can continue until mid-June. Earlier sowings usually give the best yields, but sowing in May/June can be useful if you want an early autumn crop.

Pea varieties vary widely in their growth height. Tall varieties can grow 1.5-2m high, with dwarf varieties growing up to 1m or less.

Tall varieties are best grown in rows 1m or more apart and supported with netting or sticks.

Dwarf varieties are usually grown in blocks allowing 25cm between rows, with a simple support around the edge of the bed.

Sow seeds 3–5cm apart at 2cm depth. Ensure the seed is in moist soil in order to absorb sufficient water for germination.

If you have sown in modules they are ready to transplant when they are around 10cm high. Follow the same spacing as mentioned above depending on varieties.

To ensure a good yield make sure the soil doesn’t dry out when the plants are flowering.

Peas need support. An effective support is to run lengths of chicken wire between posts with rows of peas on either side. You can also use “peasticks” (small branches of any hedgerow tree).

When to harvest peas depends on the type you are growing – mangetout are harvested before the peas have properly formed; for podding peas harvest whilst they are still immature and sweet (and use immediately, as the sugar turns swiftly to starch).

Keep harvesting your peas to ensure more pods set.