Guide to Growing Peas
Choose the Right Variety
There are three main types of peas, so pick the one that suits your needs:
- Sweet peas (Garden peas): These are eaten whole, including the seeds. They include varieties like ‘Sugar Daddy’ and ‘Snow Peas.’
- Shelling peas: These are peas you shell to remove the inedible pods. Varieties include ‘Blue Shelling’ and ‘Alaska.’
- Snap peas: These have tender, edible pods and peas inside. ‘Sugar Snap’ is a popular choice for its crisp pods.
When to Plant
- Cool-season crop: Peas grow best in cooler weather, so plant them early in the spring as soon as the soil is workable, and there’s no more danger of frost. Ideally, plant when soil temperatures are around 45°F to 55°F.
- Fall planting: In warmer regions, peas can also be planted in the fall for a late-season harvest.
Site Selection
- Sunlight: Peas prefer full sun but will tolerate light shade, especially in warmer climates.
- Soil: Peas thrive in well-draining, loamy, and slightly alkaline soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. The soil should be rich in organic matter to help retain moisture and nutrients.
Prepare the Soil
- Work organic matter: Add compost or well-rotted manure to the soil before planting to improve its fertility and drainage.
- Soil texture: If your soil is clay-heavy, amend it with organic matter or sand to improve its structure.
Planting
- Direct sowing: Peas are best planted directly in the soil. Plant the seeds about 1-2 inches deep and space them 3-4 inches apart.
- Row spacing: Leave 18-24 inches between rows to allow the plants to spread out.
- Trellis or support: Peas are vining plants, so providing a trellis, fence, or stakes is a good idea to keep the plants off the ground, encourage air circulation, and make harvesting easier. If growing a bush variety, you can skip this step.
Watering
- Consistent moisture: Peas need regular watering to keep the soil moist, especially during the germination and flowering stages.
- Avoid overwatering: Peas do not like to sit in waterlogged soil, so ensure that the soil is well-draining. Consider using drip irrigation or a soaker hose to water at the base of the plants.
- Mulching: Applying a layer of mulch around your plants helps keep moisture in and reduces weed growth.
Fertilizing
- Low-nitrogen fertilizer: Peas are nitrogen fixers, meaning they pull nitrogen from the air and convert it into a form they can use, so they don’t require heavy fertilizing. In fact, too much nitrogen can lead to lush foliage but fewer pods.
- You can add a balanced fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) in early spring before planting or mix in compost to enrich the soil.
Support and Trellising
- Trellis or poles: If you’re growing vining varieties, set up a trellis or place tall poles before planting so the peas can grow upward.
- Bush peas: These don't require a trellis and grow in a compact, bushy shape. However, they may still benefit from staking to prevent the stems from falling over.
Weeding and Mulching
- Weeding: Keep the area around your peas free of weeds, which can compete for nutrients and water.
- Mulching: Apply mulch around the base of the plants to suppress weeds and maintain consistent moisture levels.
Pest and Disease Control
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Common pests: Peas are susceptible to pests such as aphids, pea weevils, and cutworms.
- Aphids: Can be controlled with insecticidal soap or by spraying with water to knock them off.
- Cutworms: Protect seedlings by wrapping the base with a cardboard collar or using row covers.
- Pea weevils: Inspect your plants for signs of infestation and remove infected pods or larvae.
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Diseases: Peas are generally hardy but can suffer from powdery mildew, downy mildew, or fusarium wilt.
- Preventing mildew: Ensure adequate air circulation and avoid overhead watering to keep the foliage dry.
- Rotation: Practice crop rotation, as growing peas in the same spot year after year can increase the risk of soil-borne diseases.
Harvesting
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When to harvest: Peas are typically ready to harvest 60 to 70 days after planting, but the exact time depends on the variety.
- Sweet peas (like garden peas) should be harvested when the pods are plump and the peas inside are fully formed but not yet overly mature.
- Snow peas and snap peas should be harvested when the pods are still tender and before the peas inside start bulging.
- How to harvest: Pick peas by gently pulling the pods off the plant. Use scissors or pruners if the pods are tough to remove.
Storage
- Fresh peas: Fresh peas can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Freezing peas: To preserve your harvest for later use, blanch the peas by dipping them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then transfer them to ice water. Drain and freeze them in airtight containers for up to 6 months.
- Drying peas: For shelling peas, you can let the pods mature fully on the plant, then harvest, shell, and dry the peas.
Bonus Tips for Success:
- Frost protection: Peas are frost-tolerant but can be damaged by hard freezes. If frost is predicted, cover your plants with row covers or cloches.
- Companion planting: Peas are great to plant alongside carrots, radishes, and lettuce, as they help improve soil nitrogen for these plants.
- Succession planting: To enjoy fresh peas over a longer period, plant seeds every 2-3 weeks until the weather becomes too hot.
Peas are relatively easy to grow and produce a bountiful harvest in cooler temperatures. With a little care, you’ll be enjoying fresh, sweet peas in no time! Happy gardening! 🌱🫛