Garden peas and snap peas are grown for his or her shelled seeds or peas in their pods. Snow peas are grown for his or her flat, green pods.

• Peas are a cool-season crop that has got to mature before the weather gets warm. the perfect growing temperature for peas is 55°F to 70°F (13-21°C).

• Sow peas within the garden 6 weeks before the typical last frost date in spring or as soon because the soil are often worked.

About Peas. Peas are weak-stemmed vining annuals with leaf-like stipules, leaves with one to 3 pairs of leaflets, and tendrils used for climbing. Peas grow 6 to 10 peas or seeds during a pod. Seeds are either smooth or wrinkled counting on the variability . Garden, also called English peas, snap, also called sugar peas, are grown for the maturing seeds within the pods. These are harvested when pods are 4 to six inches (10-15cm) long and pods are bulging but before the pods begin to dry. Snap or sugar and snow peas are grown for his or her edible pods. These are harvested when pods are 1½ to 2½ inches (4-6mm) long and therefore the peas inside are barely visible.

Three sorts of Peas. There are three sorts of peas to grow—shelling, snow, and snap.

• Shelling peas are the classic garden pea. There are early, mid-season, and late varieties; there are bush and tall types. Harvest shelling peas when the pods are filled with round seeds. Petit pois are sorts of shelling peas that produce small pods, just 2 or 3 inches (5-7.5cm) long.
• Snow peas aren’t shelled; they’re served raw or lightly stir-fried. The pods are going to be 2 to three inches long (5-7.5cm) with tiny seeds that hardly bulge within the pod. There are both bush and tall varieties. Snow peas sometimes have fibrous strings that have got to be removed.
• Snap peas are often eaten once they are young like snow peas or the pea seeds are often allowed to enlarge; snap peas are then eaten pod and everyone once they are meatier. Snap peas are often eaten raw or lightly steamed. Snap peas grow to bush size, 2 to three feet (61-91cm) tall.

Peas are a cool-season crop that has got to mature before the weather gets warm. the perfect growing temperature for peas is 55°F to 70°F.

PLANTING PEAS

Site. Grow peas in rich, loamy soil that’s well-drained. Peas will produce earlier if planted in sandy soil. Later crops are often planted in heavier, clay soil. Plant peas fully sun or partial shade. Peas prefer a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.8. Grow peas supported by poles, a trellis, or fence.

Peas Planting Time. Peas are a cool-season crop that has got to mature before the weather gets warm. the perfect growing temperature for peas is 55°F to 70°F (13-21°C). Sow peas within the garden 6 weeks before the typical last frost date in spring or as soon because the soil are often worked. If you reside during a mild-winter region, sow peas in order that they are available to reap when the temperature is bigger than 55°F (13°C).

For growing in winter, sow round, not wrinkled, pea seeds. Round seeds can withstand cold and wet soil better than wrinkled seed. (However, the wrinkled seeded peas are sweeter.) Round pea varieties are sometimes called “earlies”–for an early or quick harvest. search for pea varieties that ready for harvest 55 to 60 days.

How to Plant and Space Peas. Sow pea seed 2 inches (5cm) deep, 2 to three inches (5-7cm) apart in double rows supported by a trellis, netting, or wire or string supports between two poles for bush varieties. Sow two seeds to every hole. Thin plants to 4 inches (10cm) apart. Space rows 18 to 24 inches (46-61cm) apart. Sow pole or vine varieties during a revolve around a pole or stake. Sow seed 8 to 10 inches (20-25cm) from the pole and then to the 8 strongest plants. Soak seed for 4 to six hours before sowing.

Companion plants. Beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, radishes, turnips. don’t plant next to garlic, onions, or potatoes.

Container Growing Peas. Peas will grow during a container a minimum of 8 inches (20cm) deep. the number of plants required to supply an inexpensive crop might not justify the trouble.Peas growing on supports

Add aged compost to planting beds beforehand of planting. Side dress plants with aged compost at midseason.

CARING FOR PEAS

Water and Feeding Peas. Keep the soil evenly moist. don’t allow the soil to dry out. Avoid getting plants wet once they are flowering or the crop could also be reduced. Add aged manure and aged compost to planting beds beforehand of planting. Side dres’s plants with aged compost at midseason.

Care of Peas. Provide a trellis or pole to support the pea vines. Peas are often grown without support; however, they’re going to grow and produce far better with support. Cultivate gently to avoid harming the delicate roots.

Pea Plant Pests. Peas are often attacked by aphids, rabbits, and birds. Control aphids by pinching out infested foliage or by hosing them away. Fence out rabbits. Use bird netting to stay birds away.

Pea Plant Diseases. Peas are vulnerable to rot, wilt, blight, mosaic, and mildew. Plant disease-resistant varieties and plant peas in well-drained soil to avoid root-rot disease. Avoid handling vines once they are wet. Remove and destroy diseased plants.

Disease and pest problems and solutions: Pea Growing Problems: TroubleshootingPeas ready for harvest

Pick shelling peas (garden, English, and snap peas) when the pods are bulging and green before peas start to harden.

HARVESTING AND STORING PEAS

Pea Harvest. Peas are going to be ready for harvest 55 to 80 days from sowing. Pick shelling peas (garden, English, and snap peas) when the pods are bulging and green before peas start to harden. Young peas are going to be tastier than older ones. Withered and yellowed pods are often used for dried peas. Pick sugar and snow peas when pods are 1½ to 2½ inches (4-6mm) long and peas are just barely visible within the pods. The sugar in peas will begin converting to starch as soon as peas are picked. To slow the method , chill the peas in their pods as they’re picked and shell them immediately before cooking.

Storing and Preserving Peas. Peas will confine the refrigerator unshelled for up to at least one week. Peas are often frozen, canned, or dried. Dried peas will confine a cool, dry place for up to 12 months. Edible-pod peas will confine the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days during a bag . Edible pod peas are often frozen and can lose little flavor.

PEA VARIETIES TO GROW

• Garden, English, and snap peas: ‘Alaska’ (52-58 days); ‘Alderman’ (75 days); ‘Bounty’ (61 days); ‘Cascadia’ (58 days); ‘Freezonian’ (60 days); ‘Frosty’ (64 days); ‘Green Arrow’ (62-100 days); ‘Lincoln’ (66 days); ‘Little Marve’l (62 days); ‘Maestro’ (57-61 days); ‘Novella’ (57 days); ‘Olympia’ (60-62 days); ‘Oregon Pioneer’ (61 days); ‘Oregon Trail’ (69 days); ‘Patriot’ (65 days); ‘Petit Provencal’ (58 days); ‘Spring Knight’ (60 days); ‘Tall Telephone’ (75 days); ‘Thomas Laxton’ (65 days); ‘Utrillo’ (71 days); ‘Wando’ (75 days).

• Sugar and snow peas: ‘Carouby De Maussane’ (55-65 days); ‘Chinese Snow’ (65 days); ‘Dwarf Gray Sugar’ (65 days); ‘Little Sweetie’ (60 days); ‘Mammoth Melting Sugar’ (69 days); ‘Mega’ (60 days); ‘Norli’ (50-58 days); ‘Oregon Giant’ (60 days); ‘Oregon Sugar Pod’ (65 days); ‘Snowbird’ (58 days); ‘Sugar Ann’ (58 days); ‘Sugar Bon’ (57 days); ‘Sugar Mel’ (60-60 days); ‘Sugar Snap’ (62-70 days); ‘Sweet Snap’ (66 days).