Growing peas in your home garden allows you to enjoy fresh produce faster than most other vegetables.
However, in order to grow and enjoy a fruitful plant, it is important to first learn how to care for it correctly.
This detailed guide to growing peas is a tutorial for gardeners of all skill levels. Learn about sun, soil, and water requirements, and get tips on pests, harvesting, and more.
Overview of simple care of peas
Information about peas
Peas (Pisum sativum) are the edible seeds of a type of vegetable plant that produce pods. A leguminous plant native to the Middle East, it is now cultivated all over the world.
A cold-hardy annual, plants vary in size from 1-foot-tall bushes to 9-foot-long vines.
Peas produce small white, pink, or purple flowers that form pods when pollinated. It’s an easy-to-grow, low-maintenance crop that will continue producing until the heat of summer sets in.
different types
There are three main types of Peach sativum: shelled peas, snow peas, and snap peas. Each of these types also has two different growth habits: bush and vine.
The Bush Hybrid is compact and ideal for small spaces and containers. Vines will climb as they grow, so they will need the support of a trellis.
Shelling – Varieties like Wando, Green Arrow, and Lincoln have inedible pods, so the peas must be removed and cooked before eating.
Snow – This is a small pea inside a thin pod and can be eaten raw without cooking or shelling. Common breeds include dwarf gray, snowbird, and Oregon giant.
Snap – This type of edible pod is crispy, contains large sweet peas, and requires no cooking. Try Sugar Snap, Early Snap, and Super Daddy.
How do peas grow?
Individual pea pods typically grow from self-pollinated flowers that begin to open about 4 to 6 weeks into their life cycle.
Flowers can be pollinated by insects, the wind, or even just a light brushing with your finger. Once pollination is successful, the pods begin to develop and are ready for harvest in just about three weeks.
The plant will continue to bloom even if it has pods. Harvest the mature ones regularly to encourage the plants to continue producing more.
How to grow peas
The first step in growing peas is choosing the best location and time to plant them. The tips below will help you get it right and find the perfect spot.
Where to grow peas
The type of peas you want to grow will determine how you choose your location. Bush types are best suited for containers and other small spaces, while vine types require more space to spread out and a support or structure to climb on.
Both grow best in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil, making raised beds a popular choice.
When to plant
Peas are cold-loving and should be planted as soon as the garden ground is workable in late winter or early spring.
The best time is 4 to 6 weeks before the average last frost date. The ground temperature should be around 60°F. You can check this with a soil thermometer probe.
If you live in a place with mild winters, you can plant them in the fall. In any case, it is best to sow seeds directly, since the root system is shallow and does not like to be disturbed.
Related article: How to save pea seeds from the garden
Pea care and growing instructions
Now that you know when and where to grow peas, let’s talk about how to care for them. Create the ideal environment for your plants to thrive and enjoy low maintenance.
sunlight
Peas like to be in the sun for 6-8 hours a day. Partial shade is fine, but too little light will reduce plant productivity and reduce the sweetness of the peas.
However, if temperatures rise above 85°F (29.4°F), exposure to sunlight can cause them to wilt. Use a shade cloth in the afternoon to protect from the strongest rays of the sun.
water
Water the peas when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil is dry. It likes constant humidity, but too much moisture will cause root rot and mold. The moisture meter probe will help you measure the right amount.
Water at the base of the plant to prevent water and soil from getting on the leaves, which can cause disease and mold.
temperature
The ideal temperature range for growing peas is 40 to 80°F (4.4 to 29.4°C). It can survive for short periods up to 20°F (-6.6°C), but pod formation may be inhibited.
High temperatures cause the leaves to wilt and prevent flowering and pod formation. When temperatures exceed 85°F (29.4°C), plants stop growing and eventually die.
fertilizer
Peas do not need fertilizer if the soil is healthy. Amend and strengthen the beds with compost if necessary.
You can also feed them with a balanced organic option such as fish emulsion or compost tea, or apply a diluted blooming liquid fertilizer once about six weeks after planting.
soil
The best soil for peas is rich, fertile, well-drained, and has a pH of 6 to 7.5. You can check using a pH probe.
They don’t like wet soil, so add plenty of compost to your garden to improve drainage and nutrient levels.
For container-grown plants, start with a high-quality all-purpose potting soil and mix in a few handfuls of perlite.
trellis
Learning how to grow trellis peas is essential if you want to grow climbing varieties. A variety of structures can be used, including frames, lean-tos, and cages.
The one you choose will depend on the size of your plant, so check the tag to see how big it can grow. Bush varieties do not require structures for climbing.
pruning
Peas do not need to be pruned regularly, but trimming when the vines reach the top of the trellis can help control size.
Cut back the vine above the leaf seam using clean, sharp precision pruners. Doing so will encourage more side buds and pods.
pest control tips
Peas grow best in the cold season, so insects are usually not a big problem. However, flea beetles, snails, slugs, and aphids may eat plants.
Keep the root zone clear of debris and sprinkle with organic food pellets to deter ground-dwelling pests. If there are leaf eaters, get rid of them by spraying them with water or using insecticidal soap.
Disease management tips
Peas are resistant to many diseases, but can be affected by fritrium wilt, downy mildew and mold. Check the leaves for wilting, yellowing, or white, black, or gray growth on the underside of the leaves.
Water around the base of the plant to reduce the risk of soil sloshing up or moisture collecting on the leaves and spreading disease. Severely affected leaves can be cut away and an organic fungicide can be used to prevent or slow the spread.
Related article: How to freeze peas
Tips for harvesting peas
Peas will be ready to harvest approximately 60 to 70 days after planting. Snap or shelled pods should be plump, firm and bright, but not hard. The Snow variety is ready when you see small peas forming inside the pods.
It is best to use scissors to cut off the vine rather than pulling it. Otherwise, you may accidentally damage the vine. Once it starts producing, it will grow quickly so check back daily.
Related article: How to make canned peas
Troubleshooting common issues
Growing peas is easy, but no plant is problem-free. If you encounter any of these common problems, use the tips in this section to get your plants back in good condition.
yellow leaves
Overwatering and disease can cause yellowing of pea leaves, but this also occurs naturally at the end of the plant’s life cycle.
Keep the soil moist but not puddled or wet, and water at the bottom to reduce the risk of disease.
As temperatures warm, the leaves begin to turn yellow. This is just as the plant nears the end of its growing season, putting its last energy into producing pods rather than leaves.
brown leaves
Root rot, nutritional deficiencies, aging, improper watering, and heat are also common causes of brown leaves.
Keep the soil evenly moist but not wet or wet, and add fertilizer as needed. As it gets hotter outside, your plants will probably start to die back naturally.
plant wilt
High heat, lack of water, and frisium wilt are all potential causes of pea wilt.
If afternoon temperatures are above 85°F (29.4°C), use shade cloth to protect the plant and keep the soil evenly moist. If these don’t work, try using organic fungicides to slow or stop the spread of the disease.
There are no flowers or pods
If the flowers are not blooming or the pods are not developing, this is a sign that something is wrong with the environment. Extreme temperatures, lack of water, and nutrient deficiencies are the main problems.
Temperatures must be above 40°F (4.4°C) and below 85°F (29.4°C). Outside this range, flowering and pod formation temporarily cease.
Make sure the soil never dries out, especially when the plant is producing fruit. If nothing else works, try adding balanced vegetable and flower plant foods for a nutritional boost.
FAQ
No, growing peas is not difficult. It grows best in cool climates, requires no fertilizer, and thrives as long as it has sun, steady water, and nutrient-rich soil.
No, peas cannot be produced all summer long. If the temperature gets too high, production will stop. Temperatures above 85°F (29.4°F) will prevent flower and pod formation and will eventually kill the plant.
The secret to growing peas is getting the timing right. They don’t like heat, so plant them as soon as the ground thaws in early spring.
Peas take 60 to 70 days from seed to harvest, but the exact range varies depending on the environment and the specific variety.
Peas are annual plants that only last for one season. If summer temperatures consistently exceed 85°F (29.4°C), they will stop producing and begin to die.
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