Being at school in the 1960’s I was taught ‘domestic science’ by the feisty and fiery Miss Barbara Hirst, who drilled into me that peas, beans and lentils are pulse vegetables, a fact I will never, ever forget. However, today I want to talk about peas, beans and wind, a bi-product of lentils.

Don’t worry, it’s the meteorological type I’m referring to! It feels to have been windy here forever. Add to that the severe lack of rain it’s a wonder anything is growing at all.

I’ve always had good results from broad beans, but a few weeks ago we had a severe overnight frost, and to be honest I thought I’d lost all of them. I’d gone out the following morning only to see my healthy young plants sadly hanging their heads.

Thankfully they rallied and yesterday I noticed how strong and vigorous they are despite the frost scare and the strong winds.

I wish the same could be said about my peas. Over the years I’ve had less and less success with peas, and last year was just a disaster.

This year it was going to be different. We rigged a fleece on some canes to surround the bed of peas, the idea being it would provide a physical barrier to prevent the wood pigeons from gaining access.

Putting it up was a task in itself given the strength of the wind, but after several abortive attempts and a lot of hard work, it was finished.

I’m amazed to report that it’s still there, even though it’s been blowing a gale ever since we put it up. Are the peas any better?

Well, I suspect if you could compare them to the plants at this time last year, they are much better, but are they vigorous and healthy like the beans? No. Still, it’s not a beauty contest, as long as they produce some peas I’ll be happy.