Peas on the windowsill

Even if you only have a windowsill or a few square feet of paving - it's amazing what you can fit in.

 

Early in the year, February on,  you can start thinking about planting a few crops. Especially if you are able to give them a sunny spot and some warmth.

Peas can be started inside in February ready to be planted out in March - 'Kelvedon Wonder' are a good early variety. 

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To avoid disturbing the peas' roots I plant seeds into small cardboard boxes that cat food sachets come in. Using paper parcel tape I shut the ends before sawing the box in half with a bread-knife, making two mini planters – in goes some multipurpose compost and 9 peas.  Push them in to the depth of your first knuckle. Put in a water-proof tray, water, sit it on a windowsill and in a few days the peas will begin to emerge.

 

To plant out dig a box sized hole and put the whole 'planter' in so the peas aren't disturbed and the cardboard will just rot away.

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If you have no outdoor space you can eat pea shoots as a tasty salad, and use cheap dried marrowfat peas instead. These can be planted very close together, they won't be growing for long so need little root space. You can use a plastic tray mushrooms came in or something similar, make a few drainage holes in it and fill with compost. Cut peas when they are 15cm high, eat raw or cook briefly, they taste of peas.