Peas

This year I shall plant some peas. I do not plant them every year but decided this year I would do so. In preparation I did some research on the internet to learn more about peas and growing them.

It is recommended to sow them in the ground about 4-6 weeks before the last frost. I am a little late by that measure but it should be fine. I was always taught to plant the first ones around Valentine’s Day but it really depend on the weather.

I’ve also read the St. Patrick’s day is a good planting time, but again it depends on the frost schedule in your area.

Generally you plant the seeds one inch deep and about one inch apart. The soil temperature should be at least 45F. If you want to start earlier you can start them in a greenhouse or cold frame. See the video below for more on that.

Peas are sensitive to too much nitrogen so you do not want to fertilize heavily. Adding a bit of bone meal is recommended for the phosphorous content.

Peas are a legume and as such they will fix nitrogen in the soil which can help other plants. I’ve read that this may not be as helpful as once thought but it cannot hurt.

A few other tips for peas:

1. Do not hoe around them as it can disturb their delicate root systems.
2. Keep the area well cleared of weeds by pulling them out.
3. Rotate peas each year to reduce soil-borne disease.
4. Keep the soil moist but be careful not to over-water; they will rot in ground that is too wet.
5. Keep the pods well picked as this will encourage the development of new ones.
6. Recommended varieties include Snowbird Snow peas which are resistant to fusarium wilt; Sugar Ann snap peas which have a short vine and Green Arrow garden peas for a mid-season variety that gives high yields and is resistant to wilt.
7. Peas do best with at least 6 hours of sun per day but will tolerate some shade. They are a cool weather crop and do not do well in the heat.

Sowing “early” peas is recommended because they tend to be hardiest.

The video below shows a clever way to use house gutter to start and plant peas early. Happy pea planting!

https://www.almanac.com/video/get-growing-early-peas

Happy Gardening,

Dan Murphy