Mange tout winter’s delight

05 Jun, 2016 - 00:06 0 Views
Mange tout winter’s delight

The Sunday Mail

I remember the taste of freshly cooked peas when I was young because it was not one l enjoyed but rather, one that l endured.

That has since changed with the passage of time.

The sweet taste of peas is one that I have grown to love and this time of the year is the best season to enjoy this vegetable.

Mange tout refers to the eating of the whole young pods.lt is a very special delicacy for many.

The rewards of growing this crop are many since it offers an opportunity to harvest two forms of the vegetable.

Peas germinate well around a temperature of 23 degrees celsius but grow optimally if the temperatures are in the range of 13 to 20 degrees celsius.

If temperatures are too high, say 27 degrees celsius, then the pods will mature too fast and the expected yield will reduce significantly.

During flowering and pod setting, ensure that the crop has adequate moisture. The preferred soil pH is around 5, 5 to 6 and the best soils are the well drained loamy types.

This legume fixes nitrogen in the soil. Excessive nitrogen should be avoided as this impedes nitrogen fixing.

Apply manure into the soil before planting. Apply compound C or S at a rate of 400-600kg/ha at least a month before planting (75g per square metre). Apply top dressing at a rate of 100 kg/ha after the pods have set in, depending on the outlook of the crop (10g per square metre) with Ammonium nitrate.

The best time for planting mange tout is from January to May, depending on the variety. Some common varieties are Oregon mange-tout, green-feast, centenary, sugar snap and trystar.

Choose an in-row spacing of 10 to 15cm and an inter-row spacing of 60cm. It is important to treat the seed prior to planting as the crop is susceptible to fungal attacks.

Dust the seed with thiram, a fungicide. Plant your seeds to a depth of 4-8cm but try to stagger planting for easier harvesting since the crop will mature at different times. Always practice crop rotation, planting peas once every three years on the same plot.

Sow the seeds in an irrigated field or garden and there after, light watering will suffice. Over watering during the early stages will result in excessive vegetative growth, which will make harvesting difficult later so rather increase watering during the flowering and fruiting time.

Harvesting occurs over an extended period of time so care must be exercised so as not to damage the plants. A balance pertaining to harvesting intervals must be reached.

The major pests to watch out for are aphids, caterpillars and red spider mites. Spray the plants accordingly, relying more on rotation.

Also remember to adhere to recommended harvest intervals after spraying.

Enjoy your greens even though its winter and keep the doctor away.

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