Gardening at a Glance... Peas

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!)