Plant: Peas
Garden Prep Pointers:
*Ideally, till soil previous Fall as Pea seed should be planted in early Spring. - Additionally, raised beds work well.
*Till in 12-12-12, or organic fertilizer (amount specified on package).
Planting Season:
*Cincinnatians should sow Pea Seeds around St. Patrick’s Day (Mid March) (Criteria represents 45 degree soil temp for other areas)
Planting Guide:
*Sow seeds 2-3 inches apart 1-1.5” deep.
*Seed for tall Pea Plants will need to be trellised when it sprouts. Be prepared and set up 3-4’ high trellis when seeds are planted.
*Seed for dwarf pea plants do not require a trellis (but do require more bending over when planting.)
Upkeep:
*Once seeds have sprouted, applying a decomposable mulch such as newspaper or straw will help cool roots and contain weeds
*After planting, avoid fertilizing again, peas are legumes and produce their own nitrogen, thus needing much less fertilizer.
Fruiting Habits:
*Plants usually fruit about 6 weeks after planting.
*Pick Daily once fruiting begins.
Grower Notes:
*The beginning of the season brings plenty of moisture to the seeds, however you may need to water to be sure dry spells in May do not affect the harvest.
*Peas are hardy down to 25 degrees, don’t be afraid of the early plant date.
*Sow Seeds again in mid-late August for a Fall crop. For added convenience, remove dead vines and use the trellis from your Spring crop.
Fruits of Knowledge:
*As the season warms, and the peas produce less, consider harvesting the shoots (top 2-6” of plant ends) as a succulent salad treat.
*Raw sugar snap peas make a GREAT snack while tending to your normal season vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers. (Be sure to plant enough for the high demand!)
