Pea 'Champion of england'

Peas will need support and this variety is very tall. It takes about 100 days to reach 3m. Encourage plants to grow up each cane. Flowers from the bottom and the crop gradually ripens up the vine

Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water often. Keep in mind when planting that Champion of england is thought of as half hardy, so remember to protect this plant from frosts and low temperatures. Ensure your soil is loamy and has a ph of between 5.5 and 6.5 as Pea is a weakly acidic soil loving plant.

Sow direct when soil and night temperature reaches 10C. Protect seeds from mice and birds. Or sow in modules or in rows in length of plastic gutter, to be planted out after frosts have past. Champion of England is best sown later rather than earlier to avoid pea moth maggot

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 1.95 inches (5.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.99 inches (2.54 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 10°C / 50°F to ensure good germination.

After frost. Best sown direct. Choose a full sun position

Ensure that temperatures are mild (minimum night temperatures should be around 10°C / 50°F) and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Champion of england is a half hardy plant.

Pick when young to be eaten as Mange tout or otherwise allow to mature and shell out of pods. Alternatively let them mature on the plant, dry and use in soups and stews. Eight to ten peas per pod

This variety tends to be ready for harvesting by mid summer.

Old variety collected by Robert Woodbridge’s grandfather in 1940 from a manor garden in Pickworth Linconshire England. This variety has been kept by is grandmother and now available through The Real Seed Catalogue