Sowing Peas

The end of March and time to start sowing Peas (Kelvedon Wonder). The area in front of the shed has been covered in black plastic over the winter. So the first job was to remove the covers (see above) and then lightly dig and rake the soil (see below).


Having prepared the soil I put up 3 rows of chicken wire, using short bamboo canes to hold them in place (see below). The canes are topped with old bottles to act as cane toppers - the clanking keeps the birds off and it also stops anyone loosing their eye on the end of a cane.


I then made a shallow trench each side of the fences and sowed some peas in them (see below). The fences provide excellent support for the peas to grow up.


In a couple of weeks time I'll also add another row or two of peas (Hurst Green Shaft).


Between the shed and the peas I've just sown I have left an area that I intend to use as a small bed and a patio area. First I levelled the area where the patio will be (see above).


Next I put a wooden border at the foot of the shed to form a small bed that I will use to grow Cucumbers in later in the year. The plan is to grow them up the shed, using the shed wall and some garden wire as support. Then I started to lay some paving slabs in front of the bed to form a small area where the kids can sit and play when they visit the allotment. I still need to get some more slabs to finish the patio, the idea is to have two rows of slabs to form a big enough patio area.