An outstanding 1st early variety, Avola has excellent colour and flavour. It is low growing, to 60cm. From a spring sowing it is ready to pick after 11-14 weeks. It can also be autumn sown in mild areas for a very early crop.
SOW: in mild areas Avola can be autumn sown for an early crop, otherwise sow from March to June. We start our peas in pots, 30-50mm seed depth and 3 or 4 seeds per pot. They can be sown in situ; for early sowing use cloches to warm the soil up first and give them that little bit of protection while they get going.
GROW: pot sown plants need to be hardened off before planting out at about 12cm apart each way, no need to tease apart, just plant as a small clump. Peas like moisture and will tolerate light shade. You should only need to water in dry summers, not too much while they are young but a little more once they start to flower. Pick regularly to encourage more growth. Compact Avola can be grown in containers, a good choice for smaller plots.
ENJOY: as a first early, Avola should be ready after 11-14 weeks. Autumn sowing plants should crop in May or early June. Harvest when the pods are bright green; either shell then cook or you can cook the pods whole and then shell them!
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