Peas are an early sweet dainty from the garden grow for wise eating , nutrient storage , animal feed , and soil health . There are actually multiple type of the garden pea , some are corrode fresh and others are allowed to dry on the plant . Both varieties favor similar growing conditions . With some garden know - how , raise peas is simple . pick out your potpourri and read the package carefully !
Varieties of peas
There are many character of peas available to grow . odoriferous peas , for example , are ornamental and the pods are inedible . Generally , edible pea are divided into three category :
All three of these prefer the same grow temperatures , soil conditions , and planting companions . The main difference between them is how they are eaten . It ’s always worth reading seed mailboat instructions because some variety grow differently than others , and may require different substructure .
Shelling Peas (Pisum sativum)
These are fat , sweet pea plant inside fibrous inedible pods . Many European varieties of shell pea were developed throughout the 1700s . For this understanding , they are also called English peas or simply garden peas .
These are the pea used to make pea salad , or canned and empty later into familiar casserole and curries . They must be shelled out of the pod before eating , and from there they may be blanched and eat , dry out , fixed , or fire . Some popular varieties of Shelling pea plant let in :
Snow Pea (Pisum savitum)
Snow pea plant are another type of garden pea plant that is eaten pod and all . They are flat and the pea inside look immature . That ’s because they are , snow peas are harvested long before the inside peas originate to maturity date . They have a cherubic crunch to them and are typically eaten fresh , although they can be freeze .
These peas are unremarkably observe in stir - fry ’s , salads , or just serve up lightly ready with lemon juice . Some of the most pop varieties to arise in the garden are :
Sugar Snap Pea (Pisum macrocarpon)
The shelling pea plant and the blow pea were the first horticultural innovations of this vegetable . The saccharide snap pea came from the best of both worlds . It was create in the 1970 ’s by Calvin Lamborn who was lick on ameliorate pea plant structure . His curiosity pass him to breed several character of edible - fuel pod pea plant that can be eat unsanded or cooked .
This is the most common pea used in snag pea plant soup . It can be shelled although does n’t require to be . The pea , pod and all , can be eaten fresh , cooked , dry , canned , or frozen . Some popular varieties are :
How to plant peas from seed?
develop a garden layer by removing mourning band and mulch . Turn the soil if it is compacted , and top it with 3 - 4 inches of compost . Peas will grow in a variety of ground from sand to clay but require a well - drain medium .
Plant peas during the cool seasons of bound and fall . spring will grow the adept crops , and peas can go in the earth as soon as dirt temperatures reach above 45 ° F ( 7.2 ° hundred ) . They ’ll stomach a rime easily , but a summer heat waving will droop them .
Soak pea plant ejaculate overnight to ensure quick germination . If desire , desegregate a rhizobial bacterium inoculant into the water that the seeds soak in . pea plant and bean have a special kinship with this grease bacterium which permit them to take nitrogen from the air and fasten it into the stain . Most of the time this bacterium is already present in the grease , but add together it to your soaking root will assure that it is present during the lifecycle of your garden .

Plant pea 2 column inch deep and 1 inch aside . Keep in mind that they will involve a trellis or musical accompaniment to grow up . Depending on assortment the height of the plant could range between 16 column inch and 6 foot . When seedlings are 1 - 2 inches marvellous , you could thin to 3 - 4 in spacing .
How to harvest peas?
If you amended your planting bed with compost prior to planting , pea should n’t have any fertilization needs at all . Other than steady watering , provide a treillage , and light weeding , there is short care associated with grow pea .
Snow pea are the first to be quick because they are harvestable at any point in their lifecycle . Young , sweet snow pea plant pods are the sweetest and most tender . When pulling them off the vine , be careful not to tug on the plant and rip it apart . Instead , use both hands to provide leverage for pinch or snapping the fuel pod off .
The good time of daylight for pluck peas is early in the morning before the dew evaporates . This is when all veggie and fruits are at their most terse and will store for the tenacious possible meter . All type of peas can be eaten fresh or stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days . Use another preservation method to keep them longer .
How to build a pea trellis?
How fancy you get with build up a musical accompaniment organisation for peas is up to you . It can be as simple as sticking some cut branch into the reason for the pea plant to wax . industrial plant peas along a conducting wire fencing so you do n’t have to worry about build anything . pea plant tendrils will wrap around many material from fencing blast to intertwine to trellis wood .
If your peas are in row , you’re able to pound in two stakes and run garden twin between them . Pull in tight to make a string fencing for the pea plant to cling to as they produce . Or , use extra tomato coop and place one around each industrial plant .
Companion plants
Peas are the ultimate garden comrade plant . They not only grow well with most other garden herbaceous plant and vegetables , but they actually profit them by pumping N into the soil . The best way to get the most from your pea plants is to go around them through the garden give each planting layer a rotation of peas .
The large nutritious welfare comes from leave the beginning to decompose in the soil . Living pea plant works will feed other non - pea or dome plant around them , but they will feed much more heavily after being harvest .
When pea plants begin to brown and are no longer producing peas , simply allow them to compost back into the bed . If this is n’t an option because you want to utilize the space , then cut them at the soil level and plant around the roots . let the rootage decay and release plant life - available food . Other members of the pea and bean family will not benefit from this bacterial relationship because they share it .
Common pests and problems
Peas are fair resistive to most takings , some varieties more than others . Powdery mildew is a clean powder - comparable fungus that can affect leaves in blotto clime with wrong melodic phrase flowing . However , several varieties of pea plant are resistant to this fungus so if you know in an expanse that is prostrate to powdery mildew , buy resistant varieties .
If a plant life is yellowing , it ’s probable a alimentary lack . Add a layer of fresh compost as a mulch and water it in . In some cases , yellowing is a sign of over - fertilization . Peas do not need N and may suffer if a heavy N fertiliser is used .
Mice can be a problem with pea seeds , particularly if you are starting them in a greenhouse . mouse will dig up peas and eat on them directly from the undercoat . You may not discover for a distich of weeks until your pea do n’t sprout .
battle this by rate a screen or netting over the soil . It can be removed once they germinate . Wrap seedling trays in plastic to foreclose mice or birds from steal seeds .