Few things are more delicious from the garden than a tender pea fresh off the vine. Nothing compares to the super-sweet flavour of freshly harvested, tender, homegrown peas. Growing your peas also gives you the bonus of enjoying fresh pea shoots, a true culinary treat.
Peas are generally easy to grow, don’t require much space in your garden, and will bring you happiness when it’s time to harvest.
Let’s explore the different types of peas you can grow at home and learn how to plant, care for, and harvest your organic peas.
Types of Peas
Three types of peas can meet most gardening and culinary needs:
- Sweet Peas (also known as garden peas or English peas, Pisum sativum ssp. sativum) have inedible pods, and the seeds (peas) are harvested from them.
- Snow Peas (P. sativum var. macrocarpon) produce flat, stringless, edible pods with small peas inside.
- Snap Peas (P. sativum var. macrocarpon ser. cv.) have thick, edible pods that contain large, full-size peas.
When to Plant Peas
Sow seeds 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost date when the soil is still cool or has reached your preferred temperature. Peas sown in cold (40°F) soil will germinate slowly, while those planted in soil at least 60°F (but not more than 85°F) will sprout faster.
Snow won’t harm emerging pea plants, but several days of teen temperatures might. Be ready to replant if the first round doesn’t survive, or consider starting your peas in a cold frame.
You can plant a second round of peas in late summer or early fall, about 6 to 8 weeks before the first fall frost date.
How to Grow Green Peas
Follow these best practices to successfully grow green peas and care for the plants in your home garden.
Prepare Your Soil
Early April is an ideal time to plant peas, and at this time, the soil is likely dry enough to start. Soil moisture is always a crucial factor to consider. Once the soil feels ready, it’s time to prepare the bed. Add a layer of compost, one to three inches thick, depending on how much improvement your soil needs.
Although peas don’t require much additional nutrition, it’s good practice to amend the soil before each planting. Spread the compost evenly over your bed or box, then work it into the top six inches of soil using a fork or trowel. It also helps break up any large clumps, heavy adobe clay soil, and rock-like balls that may have formed over the winter. Aim for a fine tilth and ensure the soil is well-mixed and ready for planting. Keep in mind the size of pea seeds. When planting garden peas, ensure no soil clumps are larger than the seeds.
Sow Your Peas
First, if you are learning how to grow green peas, we suggest using pea seeds as an easy introduction to direct germination.
To sow your peas:
- Create a one-inch deep trench in the soil using your finger, trowel, or pencil.
- Plant two rows on either side of a fence or trellis to let the peas climb, which makes harvesting easier and adds beauty to the garden.
- Sow the peas close together in the trenches.
Unlike many vegetables, peas grow better when crowded and even touching. There’s no need to thin them out; just plant them and let them grow!
Using a trellis makes growing garden peas much more effective. To build a simple, inexpensive trellis, use three bamboo stakes (or any small stakes) about 4 feet long and some garden twine. Insert two stakes into the ground about 3 feet apart and tie the third stake across the top between them to create a goal-post shape. Tie 3 to 4 pieces of twine vertically from the top and another four pieces horizontally between the stakes. It forms a sturdy net for the peas to climb.
Watering
When learning how to grow green peas, watering requires careful attention. Water them thoroughly immediately after sowing. Check back every few days to ensure the soil’s surface remains moist until they germinate. As pods begin to form and temperatures rise, the frequency and depth of watering increase. Depending on your soil type, this could mean watering daily.
Harvesting
Peas are typically ready to harvest around three months after sowing. For those learning how to grow green peas, knowing when to pick different varieties is essential. Harvest mangetout varieties as soon as the peas form inside the pods. Other types should be picked once the pods are full and swollen with peas.
Start picking from the bottom of the plant and move upwards, as the lower pods are the most mature. Be sure to use both hands when harvesting to prevent damaging the plant.
Storing
Peas taste best when picked and used immediately, but they can be stored in the salad compartment of the fridge for up to a week. You can freeze them if you have a glut to preserve their freshness.
Pests and Diseases for Peas
Watch out for snails and slugs, which mainly target new shoots as they emerge from the soil. Use an OCP eco-shield to protect your seedlings. Aphids and mites can also be problematic but can be controlled with organic insecticides. Act quickly to prevent mite populations from exploding.
Fungal diseases like powdery mildew are common, incredibly late in the season or when damp conditions and plants have poor circulation. Increase airflow around your plants and minimize overhead watering to keep the foliage dry. If needed, apply an organic fungicide.
If you want to master how to grow green peas successfully, good plant hygiene is key. Remove old and dead leaves and clear away weeds, providing perfect conditions for pests and diseases. Also, practice crop rotation to prevent future problems.
