COMMUNITY GARDEN GUIDELINES

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PLANTING PEAS

by LaSabra Caldwell

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GARDENING FRESH PEAS

From “Helium” Home and Garden

There are so many types of peas that you can grow in your own garden. All types from Shelling Peas to Snow Peas. They are a cool season vegetable which takes little effort to grow and harvest. Having these fresh from your garden is a great reward. Peas need full exposure or even just partial shade along with cooler temperatures to grow well.

The maturity sizes differ depending on your choice. Some are tall with a height of approximately 5'. Then you have the semi-dwarf plants that are approximately 2' to 4'. Dwarf plants are the last ones which are approximately 2' or less. You harvest when the peas have enlarged in their pods. To check this you will have to lightly squeeze the pod. In exception to snow peas, which are grown for their edible pods. These are harvested when they have grown to be 3" in length and the pods have become fat.

If you don't have a lot of room for growing peas you can garden some in your flower bed or a large flower pot. There is a variety of low growing attractive plants you can garden. You will have to remember to remove the vines after harvest before they turn brown.

You will have different groups of varieties to choose from. There are shelling, snap, sugar and snow. Sugar and Snow Peas are known for their edible delicious pods. They are also categorized as tall, semi-dwarf and dwarf. You can plant in spring when the soil is able to be worked. An early planting though does not always germinate any earlier than if you were to wait for the ground to warm. Although peas are a cool weather crop they do not like soul that is cold and wet. The seeds themselves can survive a frost but the plants cannot.

A fall crop is iffy, but is not impossible. If there is about 2 months between summer heat and fall frost there is a possibility to be able to have a fall crop. Gardeners in the south can plant seeds in the fall and wait for them to germinate in the spring. When the weather cools down and temperatures stay around 70 degrees then the growing of the plants slow down and the plant dies.

All types of peas need support while growing. Trellising can be done by using fencing, mesh, a bushy cut tree and shrub branches or even other plants. Because of pea plants being trellised people plant them in rows or bands of 3 to 4 inches. You cover the seeds with 1 to 2 inches of soil and pack it down firmly. To extend your harvest season you can plant in 2 week successions. You can also plant varieties that mature at different times.

The biggest problem with pea plants is root rot. This causes the foliage to turn brown and die. Making sure the soil is well drained and by rotating the pea crop each year will help. Peas also are prone to powdery mildew in humid weather.