How to Plant and Grow Peas? Many gardeners will agree that freshly picked peas (Pisum sativum) provide a practically unparalleled delight, although opinions may differ. Because they are frequently the first spring crop to be picked, fresh-off-the-vine peas offer a crisp crunch, an indisputably brilliant and nuanced flavour, and the first sign of the summer’s bounty to come.
The sorts of peas that are available to home gardeners, when and where to plant them, and most importantly, when to harvest and consume them, are all covered in this growing guide.
How to Plant and Grow Peas
Slim or Fat?
Within these two groups, there are two subgroups: dwarf (also known as a bush) kinds, which mature at a height of 16 to 30 inches, and tall (also known as telephone) varieties, which can reach a height of three feet or more.
The tall variety bear fruit over a longer period of time, whereas the dwarf cultivars typically produce their crop all at once, similar to a determinate tomato. Some gardeners favour the taller types because they are simpler to harvest. With shorter shrub cultivars, trellising is frequently unnecessary, but with taller ones, support will almost certainly be required.
Unpalatable Shell
The green orbs within garden peas, often referred to as English peas, must be shelled before they can be consumed raw or cooked because the pods are inedible. Popular heirloom open-pollinated dwarf garden variety “Green Arrow” is offered by Eden Brothers in weights ranging from 1 ounce to 10 lbs. You will receive about 50 seeds in each package of this heirloom cultivar, which can reach heights of 7 feet.
Eating Shell
The edible-pod variety of peas includes snow peas (P. sativum var. Saccharum), sometimes known as Chinese pea pods. They have tiny peas inside of pods that are almost as flat as flash drives. Stir-fries frequently feature them. Consider growing “Oregon Sugar Pod II” from Burpee if you want to plant a snow variation.
Orderable packs of 300 or 900 seeds that grow into 28-inch-tall plants are available. There are also seed packs that have been cultivated and collected entirely organically. The flavour of sugar snaps combines garden and snow. They have a soft, edible pod like the snow type, but they are plump like garden peas. Consider Burpee’s “Super Sugar Snap” if you want to develop sugar snaps. This cultivar grows to a height of roughly 60 inches and is offered by Burpee.com in packets of 300 or 900.
Sunny but Cool:
P. sativum is a cool-weather crop that is frost-resistant. As soon as the soil can be worked and the temperature is at least 45°F, plant seeds in full light. If you are in a region with warm summers, you should plant your seeds as soon as possible because P. sativum will cease to exist once temperatures reach 85°F.
These legumes favour organically rich, well-drained soil. They thrive on soil that has a pH of 6 to 7.5. The seeds should be sown 1 to 1 1/2 inches apart and deep. 12 to 18 inches should separate rows. After seedlings have emerged, thin them out to two or three inches apart, retaining the strongest individuals. To help the drip line retain moisture, add mulch to the planting area.
Sprinkles in the Springtime Should Work
These plants require a lot of water, particularly when the pods are developing. You’re in good condition if you get an inch of spring rain each week. Anything less will require you to supplement. You can feed with phosphorus if soil tests show that it is necessary. These plants, however, produce their own nitrogen, so they don’t require further supplies. By hand-pulling the invaders, you can keep the garden area weed-free.
You Can Eat the Whole Plant:
English types should be harvested before the peas have completely filled the pod. These vegetables should be shelled and eaten as soon as possible because they only keep in the refrigerator for two to three days. Allow the English varieties to fully mature and dry on the vine before harvesting the dried peas for use in soups or planting the following year.
Snow peas should be harvested as soon as they are edible. Depending on the cultivar, consult the seed packet for the optimal size at maturity. Pick sugar snaps while they are still tender, as soon as the pods swell. Snow and snap peas can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Just wait until you’re ready to eat before washing them. Keep in mind that some varieties will require the strings to be removed before cooking.
Because the vines of these plants are the most tender and delicious when the plant is young, some gardeners plant extra seeds just to harvest the tendrils and shoots before the pod’s form. They go well with fresh early-season salads. These green bits of goodness are high in protein, fibre, and iron, and we’ve compiled a list of recipes that are as tasty as they are nutritious.
Create Your Own Salad Bar:
Let’s start with a fresh pesto pasta salad from Foodal, our sister site. To make a refreshing summer salad, combine English peas with basil and spinach from the garden. Let’s start with a fresh pesto pasta salad from Foodal, our sister site. To make a refreshing summer salad, combine English peas with basil and spinach from the garden.
Another salad from Foodal combines a hearty grain with greens, radishes, carrots, and our tasty emerald orbs and is made with black rice and a red wine vinaigrette. Mushroom Mattar masala is a delectable vegetarian side dish, especially when made with fresh garden vegetables. The recipe for this one can be found in The Magic Saucepan. For a delectable casserole dish, try Sugar Love Spices’ lasagna Bianca with white sauce, asparagus, peas, and mushrooms.
Plump or Lean, anyway is Fine
Nothing says summer vegetables like the springy flavour of peas, whether they’re chubby BBs thumbed from the shell or flat as a Wrigley’s stick waiting to be sliced into a salad. The springy flavour of peas, whether they are fat BBs thumbed from the shell or flat as a stick of Wrigley’s and waiting to be chopped into a salad, sings the promise of summer vegetables to come.
Peas are simple to cultivate if you offer them excellent soil and enough water. They are one of the few vegetables that can withstand a frost without suffering any negative effects. You grow this legume, right? Which type thrives the most in your region? Describe your experience in the following comments section.
