Key takeaways
- Hurst Green Shaft is the dependable show pea; Show Perfection and Alderman give longer pods
- Sow about three months before the show, plus a second batch a week or two later
- Tall show peas need strong canes or netting at least 1.8m high
- Steady watering at flowering and pod fill gives full, even pods
- Pick on show morning and handle pods only by the stalk to keep the bloom
- Grow plenty of plants so you can choose a well-matched dish
Exhibition peas are all about the dish. A plate of long, plump, fresh green pods that match each other will beat a bigger crop every time. The good news is that show peas are grown much like kitchen peas. You just give them taller support, more care at flowering, and a careful pick on the day.
This guide covers choosing a show variety, timing your sowing for the show date, growing and picking. For everyday pea growing, start with the guide to how to grow peas.
Which pea varieties win at shows?
Hurst Green Shaft is the safe choice. It holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit and gives long, pointed pods packed with peas, often borne in pairs. It’s easy to find and grows to about 75cm, so it needs less support than the old tall varieties.
Show Perfection and Alderman are tall traditional peas with long pods. They can top 1.5m, so they need sturdy canes or netting. Their pods can be more uneven, so you need more plants to find a matching set.
| Variety | Height | Why grow it for show |
|---|---|---|
| Hurst Green Shaft | About 75cm | Reliable, long, well-filled pods |
| Show Perfection | Tall, 1.5m or more | Long pods for the bigger classes |
| Alderman | Tall, 1.5m or more | Traditional long-podded show pea |
Skip early dwarf peas such as Kelvedon Wonder and Feltham First. Their pods are short for the show bench. The guide to the best pea varieties compares kitchen, mangetout and sugar snap types.
When to sow show peas for your show date
Count back about three months from the show. For most August shows that means sowing in late March or April.
Pots keep mice off the seed and give you sturdy plants. A second tray sown a week later is your safety net.
Sow two seeds per 9cm pot of peat-free compost in a cold frame or cool greenhouse. Thin to the stronger seedling. Pots keep mice off the seed and give you sturdy plants to set out. Harden them off and plant out in late April or May, once they are about 10-15cm tall.
Always sow a second batch a week or two after the first. Spring and summer weather never runs to plan. Two sowings give you a much better chance that one batch has perfect pods on show morning.
Growing and training show peas
Give tall show peas strong support from day one. Put canes or netting in before you plant. For tall varieties, use canes at least 1.8m high, tied to a wire or cross-bar so the row can’t blow over.
Plant about 15-20cm apart along the row. Some exhibitors grow each plant up its own cane and pinch out side shoots. That gives fewer, better pods on the main stem. Tie the stem in loosely with soft twine as it grows. For shorter kitchen crops, hazel pea sticks are a free alternative.
Pea flowers pollinate themselves before they open, so there’s no need to help them. Just keep the plants growing steadily.
Tall show peas need firm canes from the start. A drip line or soaker hose keeps the water coming steadily at flowering.
Watering and feeding show peas
Water steadily once flowers appear. Dry soil at flowering and pod fill gives short, half-filled pods. Water deeply at the base once or twice a week in dry spells, and mulch to keep the moisture in.
Fine mesh over the row while the peas flower keeps pea moths away from your show pods.
Peas make much of their own nitrogen, so they need little feeding. Dig in well-rotted compost the autumn before. If plants look weak during podding, a high-potash liquid feed such as tomato feed can help. Avoid rich nitrogen feeds, which give lots of leaf and few pods.
Pea moth caterpillars spoil show pods from the inside. Covering the row with fine insect mesh while the plants flower keeps the moths out. The guide to stopping pea moth has the details.
Picking and choosing a matched dish
Pick on show morning if you can. Pods lose their freshness and bloom quickly once picked. Bloom is the pale, powdery film on the pod, and judges want to see it.
Line the pods up by length, then hold each one to the light. You want every pea showing right to the tip.
- Snip each pod off with scissors, leaving a short stalk
- Hold pods only by the stalk, never by the pod itself
- Lay them in a single layer in a shallow tray, out of the sun
- Sort them by length on a clean cloth
- Hold each pod up to the light to check it is filled to the tip
- Pick a set that matches in length, shape, colour and fill
Pack a few spares in case one gets marked on the way.
How to stage show peas on the bench
Follow the schedule for the number of pods. Lay them neatly on the plate, all facing the same way, with the stalks kept on. Don’t wash, polish or wipe off the bloom.
Judges look for freshness, matching, a full pod and good colour. Many will open a pod to check the peas are tender and evenly sized. The guide to how UK show veg is judged explains how the marks add up.
Long, matched pods with the bloom intact. Lay them neatly, all facing the same way, and let them do the talking.
Common mistakes with show peas
- Sowing only once. A single batch rarely peaks on the right day. Sow twice
- Weak supports. Tall peas full of pods can flatten a flimsy row in one summer storm
- Letting plants dry out. Short, empty-tipped pods are the usual result
- Picking the night before. Bloom and freshness fade fast. Pick on the morning if you can
- Handling the pods. Fingers rub off the bloom. Hold them by the stalk
Show pea calendar
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| Autumn | Dig compost into the pea bed |
| February | Order seed. Check canes and netting |
| March to April | Sow in pots. Sow a second batch a week or two later |
| April to May | Harden off and plant out beside canes |
| June to July | Tie in, water at flowering, cover against pea moth |
| July to August | Pick on show morning. Select and stage |
| September | Clear plants, leaving the roots in the soil |
Other show crops sit well alongside peas. The guide to growing runner beans for show covers the long-pod bean class, and more crop guides are on the growing veg hub.
When you’re ready to plan the rest of your entries, read the guide to winning at your village veg show.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best variety for show peas in the UK?
Hurst Green Shaft is the most dependable choice for beginners. It gives long, well-filled pods, often in pairs. Show Perfection and Alderman are tall varieties with longer pods but need more support. Avoid early dwarf varieties and mangetout for the pea class.
How are exhibition peas judged at a UK show?
On freshness, matching, pod fill and colour. Judges want pods of the same length and shape, fully filled to the tip, a fresh dark green with their natural bloom. Yellowing, damaged or half-empty pods lose marks. Many judges open a pod to check the peas inside.
When should I sow peas for an August show?
Sow in pots in late March or April. A maincrop pea takes roughly three months from sowing to picking. Sow a second batch a week or two later, so one lot is at its best on show day.
How many pea plants do I need for a show dish?
Grow far more than the dish needs. A double row of a few metres gives plenty of pods to choose from. Only a small share of pods will match well, and you want spares on show morning.
How should I present exhibition peas on the show bench?
Lay the pods neatly on the plate, all facing the same way. Use the number of pods the schedule asks for. Keep a short stalk on each pod and don’t wipe off the bloom. Never wash or polish them.
Our team produces practical UK gardening guidance from source research, contributor records and established horticultural practice. Editorial standards are overseen by Matt W.
