Mange Tout Rodney Mange Tout!

Sorry for the title , but whenever I hear MangeTout I always think of Del boy Trotters parlez Francais attempts
In my new found veg growing phase ( very very small scale in containers ) I thought I would have a try at Mange Tout - love them . I have invested a whole 99p on Ebay and will be growing "Oregon". Looking at growing instruction on the T and M site it says leave 36" between rows !!! Is this correct ?
What spacing should I allow in a rectangular container ? How tall are they likely to grow ? What protection from birds and slugs is needed ? Excuse me for the multiple brain picking questions

TIA

 

Hi Harry,

36" between the rows is only so you can get between them to pick. In containers that doesn't apply, a couple of inches apart will do you. Make sure they can grab some pea sticks asap, once they start to do that they will get away well.

Slugs are not normally a problem, a stupid pigeon watched me putting some in a few weeks back so I put a toy cat next to them & he didn't touch them. Had it away with the PSB instead.

Modern varieties have been bred to only grow 3/4 foot tall. Keep picking once they start, as soon as it thinks its had babies it will stop cropping so don't let any peas swell up.

 

Just in case some members wonder what the thread title is whittering on about. here is a clip of Francais a la fools and horses......

 

Did you buy from Premier Seeds, like what I did and got these that need planting out tomorrow today?

 

Scrungee I did buy from Premier Seeds ! Used them quite a few times without problems. Are the MT seeds at the end of the sell by date
I presume they are MT in your cellular trays with netting over, looking very healthy. But I thought they do not like being transplanted and should be sown in situ ?

 

With my mouse/vole/pidgeon/etc infested plot I find virtually everything's better started off in modular cell trays, especially with my cold wet clay soil, and it eliminates the need for protective mesh (or toy cats) over them if sown direct.

 

Where do people get the old fashioned pea sticks from,bamboo canes are ok but I think peas would be better with small twigs.But where do I get them.

 

I coppice Silver Birch:

 

Thats the stuff I am after but even though there is loads of open ground around here the council would have a fit if I started harvesting from their plants.
I can see me getting a balaclava and going out after dusk!

 

Well my Oregon Mange Tout have grown and cropped very well for a month . Really pleased with these for a first timer , they are so tasty. I presume these plants have finished cropping and can be cut down ? If I plant another lot of seeds in the same place would I get another crop before winter sets in ? Also is it OK to plant the seeds in the same ground though ?

TIA

 

Hi Harry,

You should get a crop if the weather keeps good, was picking in november a few years back.

 

Second thoughts, I think it was an early variety I planted in August to get a late crop.