Late Sown Peas

Reasons for Summer Seed Sowing

• If you want a regular supply of salad crops and continuity of fresh vegetables then sow through summer.
• Some crop failures can be retrieved by a summer sowing.
• Some crops prefer a late sowing. Runner beans soon catch up if sown now.
• Summer sowing lengthens the harvesting period and late sowings come into their own as early sowing begin to peak.

Tips for Summer Sowing

• Salad, carrots , radish and cut and come again crops are suited to direct sowing.
• Increase the organic matter in your soil during autumn to increase the water retention ability.
• Water your weed free seed bed a couple of days before sowing to increase the moisture level to a depth of at least 2″.
• In very dry conditions water a deep drill before sowing and leave a U shape furrow to focus more water to the seedlings
• A fine tilth and firming down will help the seed make good contact with the moist soil.
• If the soil is prone to forming a crust cover seeds with proprietary compost rather than garden soil.
• Covering new seed drills with fleece or newspaper reduces evaporation as would any temporary shading.
• A tip for lettuce germination is to sow in the afternoon – lettuce need a cool period to germinate.

Look after your summer sown children – Do not go on holiday – ‘do not collect £200 for passing go.’