Peas are productive and less susceptible to rot if given some support or, for taller varieties, planted along a fence or trellis. The raised beds warm up faster than the surrounding ground.Īll peas, even the dwarf varieties, grow best with support. To get peas in the ground and germinating as early as possible in the spring, plant them in raised beds. To improve overall green pea production, consider using the following techniques. Outstanding winter pea crops can often be grown in Zones 9-11. To determine when to sow your fall crop, check the days to maturity for the pea varieties chosen and count backward from the expected first frost date. The trick is to finish the harvest before a hard frost. But, for the reward of an extra crop, the minimal effort and expense is well worth the gamble. The following varieties are recommended: Early:įall pea crops are finicky and many gardeners end up with mixed results. They'll mature at different times, staggering the harvest. In the spring, instead of planting different varieties at weekly intervals, plant peas all at once. Plant early, mid-season, and late varieties to get maximum pea production. Otherwise, sow the seeds directly in the soil about a month before the expected last frost in your area. If this is the only way to get an early start, go for it. Disturbing the young roots can diminish yields later in the season. To this day, peas are one of our favorite vegetables.Īlthough peas can be started indoors in peat pots for transplanting, they really don't make the transition well. Even Captain John Smith wrote of the abundant crop of peas the Jamestown colonists enjoyed in 1614. In 1602, the Mayflower Colony logbook records that peas planted by Captain Gosnold produced respectable yields on the island of Cuttyhunk. The earliest colonists brought peas to the New World where this valuable vegetable became a staple in their diets. By the end of the 16th century, peas were being perfected in Germany, Belgium, and England. Peas were originally grown for their dry seeds, in fact, for centuries people thought 'green' peas were poisonous! Fresh-shelled green peas are not mentioned in history until after the Norman Conquest of England. In fact, the word 'peas' is a derivation of the Latin 'pisum.' The Anglo-Saxon word for peas was 'pise' or 'pease' as in the nursery rhyme, 'pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold.' Peas were popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans. Although its origin is obscured in history, peas were found in excavations in Switzerland dating to the Bronze Age and in an Egyptian tomb at Thebes. The green pea is one of the oldest cultivated vegetables in the world. This way you can get maximum yields using only a few square feet of garden space. If you've never grown peas before, why not try a bed of the early bush types, like 'Spring' or 'Burpeeana Early' garden peas or 'Sugar Bon' snap peas? If you have limited garden space, plant 'Alderman' heirloom garden peas or 'Super Sugar' snap peas on a trellis or fence. Where soil is very acidic, apply dolomite or agricultural lime. Work in plenty of compost to keep the soil friable. Peas prefer a fertile, sandy loam that drains well, but will tolerate most soils except heavy, impermeable clay. Use the information only as a guide for determining early, mid-season, and late varieties. So, the days to maturity can be misleading. The 'days to maturity' listed on the seed packets are calculated from the date of direct seeding, but soil temperature determines how long it takes for pea seeds to germinate.įor example, if the soil is 40 degrees F., pea seeds may take more than a month to sprout, while at 60 degrees F. ![]() Otherwise, plant peas about a month prior to your frost-free date.įor a fall crop, you'll have to nurse the seedlings through late-summer heat with shade and diligent watering until cool weather arrives. ![]() In temperate zones, the saying "Plant peas by St. Peas must be planted as early as possible in the spring to get a full harvest before hot summer temperatures arrive and put an end to production. Once germinated, green peas adapt well to the cold, damp climate of early spring. Green Peas thrive in cool weather and young plants will tolerate light frosts. Just keep an eye out for aphids on the pea plants and get rid of them with a sharp spray of water from the garden hose. ![]() Pests and diseases are rarely a problem, particularly if disease-resistant varieties are planted. Once planted, peas need little attention other than watering and harvesting.
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