Growing peas for show

If anyone's ever wondered why peas are a '20 pointer' under show ratings as they've always found them easy to grow........just try getting them to come good at the end of August onwards. It's much more difficult to get good quality peas later in the season, hence why they are valued so much.

I've only ever managed to show one set of peas before and did come first with them........but alas they were the only entry in the class! Most 'Showers' grow the variety Show Perfection which takes about 90 days from sowing to showing. I sowed mine at the beginning of June but they haven't come through yet....so it'll be another pea-less season for me I fear.

Instead of growing through chicken wire or letting them scramble up peas sticks they are grown singly against canes in cordon fashion. All the tendrils are cut off and the peas tied to the canes as they grow, in much the same way as you might grow sweet peas. The flowers need to be snipped off until about 3 weeks before show day.

Mildew is usually a problem with growing peas that late in the season and the plants would need to be sprayed against that. Growing so late means pea moth is not usually a problem however. They need to be cut at their optimum size (6-8" long preferably) and can be cut up to 3 or 4 days before the show and stored out of sunlight in a dark place. Never handle the pea pods......hold them by their stalks and cut as much stalk as possible. This way the 'bloom' stays fresh. Some growers go as far as storing them on a bed of nettles until show day. Ideally the tiny little remnants of the flower should still be showing at the bottom end of the pod. They can be staged on paper plates but they look best when staged side by side on specially made black boards.