In article ,
Barrier wrote:
Bob Hobden wrote:
"Chris Hogg" wrote

I have a couple of rows of garden peas planted and over the last
couple of weeks a white powdery substance has appeared on them and
it would seem that
the plants are suffering as a result, although the mature peas seem
to be uninfected.

Any suggestions please as to the cause of the powder.

Mildew? Often occurs in dry weather. Make sure the peas are kept well
watered. If you already do that, then I'm out of suggestions!

By "well watered" Chris means a watering can (1.5 gals) for every,
say, 5ft of the row. You may already be doing that but I see some
allotment holders using only enough water to change the colour of the
earth not water the plants and then wondering why they don't look
like mine.

Thanks for the reply Bob. They were watered with using a hose pipe and a
copper pipe adaptation that I made up with a watering can hose on the end
(fairly severe erosion of the bottom couple of vertebrae of the spine make
one more inventive to save bending and carrying) and they were very well
watered, but as I replied to Chris, the ground doesn't hold water well (too
free-draining) so that could well be the problem.

In my experience, peas do not do well in my soil, which is light
like yours. I now grow only snap peas, and get a decent crop
only every few years. I am not prepared to water heavily every
day.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.