| Pest/Disease |
Type |
Symptoms |
Control/Prevention |
| Aphids |
Insect |
Misshapen/yellow leaves; distorted flowers/fruit; sticky “honeydew” (excrement produced by aphids); sooty, black mold that forms on honeydew; large presence of ants on plants |
Grow companion plants to either attract aphids away (nasturtiums) or repel them outright (basil, rosemary, strong-scented plants); knock aphids off plants with water spray, apply insecticidal soap; put banana or orange peel around plants; wipe leaves with a 1-2% solution of liquid dish soap and water every 2-3 days for 2 weeks; add native plants to attract aphid predators. Find images and more information about aphids here. |
| Fusarium Wilt |
Fungus |
Plants wilt (sometimes on just one side) in daytime; leaves turn yellow (lower ones first); later, entire plant wilts/dies; growth is stunted; stem cross section reveals brown discoloration |
Destroy infected plants; avoid excessive nitrogen in soil; in acidic soils, raise pH to 7.0; choose resistant varieties; disinfect tools between use; practice crop rotation |
| Downy Mildew |
Fungus |
Yellow, angular spots on upper leaf surfaces that turn brown; white/purple/gray cottony growth on leaf undersides only; distorted leaves; defoliation |
Remove plant debris; choose resistant varieties; ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering |
| Mexican Bean Beetles |
Insect |
Lacey, skeletonized leaves; dark holes on pods |
Remove by hand; purchase and release beneficial wasp Pediobius foveolatus when beetle larvae are observed; destroy severely infested plants. Find images and more infomation about Mexican bean beetles here. |
| Powdery Mildew |
Fungus |
Typically, white spots on upper leaf surfaces expand to flour-like coating over entire leaves; foliage may yellow/die; distortion/stunting of leaves/flowers |
Destroy infected leaves or plants; choose resistant varieties; plant in full sun, if possible; ensure good air circulation; spray plants with 1 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1 qt water; remove infected plant matter from garden and destroy (don’t compost). Find images and more information about powdery mildew here. |
| Root-knot Nematodes |
Insect |
Roots become “knotted” or galled; plants stunted/yellow/wilted |
Destroy affected plant matter (especially roots); choose resistant varieties; expose soil to sun (solarize); add aged manure/compost; disinfect gardening tools between uses; till soil in autumn; practice crop rotation |
| Wireworms |
Insect |
Pest affects newly planted seeds and young plants. Seeds hollowed; seedlings severed; stunting/wilting; roots eaten |
Sow seeds in warm soil for quick germination; provide good drainage; remove plant debris at end of season; practice crop rotation. If infestation is bad enough, trap by digging 2- to 4-inch-deep holes every 3 to 10 feet, fill with mix of germinating beans/corn/peas or potato sections as bait, cover with soil or a board, in 1 week uncover and kill collected wireworms. |
| White Mold |
Fungus |
Pods near the ground show cottony mold and black patches, and they are slimy rather than leathery or dry, becoming inedible. |
Gather up affected pods and compost them. Healthy plants may produce a second crop if dry weather returns in time. To prevent, make sure plants get good air circulation and plenty of sun to dry quickly after rains. Use mulch. Avoid watering from overhead; water at soil level. |
Reader Comments
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peas
When I studied Biology we were taught that the seeds or seed coverings (the sexual reproduction part of the plant was fruit as opposed to roots, stems and leaves. Question: Why is a pea not a fruit, but a vegetable?
Vegetable vs. Fruit
According to the scientific definition of fruit, peas are indeed a fruit, since they are the seed-bearing structure that develops from the pea flower. However, in common language and in gardening, we usually follow the culinary definition of fruits and vegetables, which is that vegetables are savory and fruits are sweet. Of course, this is not always true—just eat a sugar snap pea—but this is the way that most vegetables and fruit are organized. This is why tomatoes, cucumbers, and pumpkins are also called vegetables despite technically being fruits!
So, long story short: Peas are both fruits and vegetables, depending on which definitions you follow!
Peas growing beautifully in Arizona!
We converted a single car garage into my greenhouse here in Pine, AZ (zone 7B)...have been growing peas all winter and they are flowering now. Heated by a portable heater at night and cooled by fan in day IF it is a sunny, warm day. Also growing lettuces, radish - both of which we are enjoying in salads daily, carrots, green onions, red and white “bulb” onions, broccoli, celery, spinach, strawberries (yes, picked a strawberry last week), blueberry bushes, dwarf trees: meyer lemon and Clementine mandarin.
These are very happy plants...and are eagerly awaiting peas to have with dinners!
Oh...the pea plants touch each other..seeds were planted about 2” apart....but they intertwined when growing upward...very happy plants. Feeding Chicken Soup for the Soil and side dressed with compost. Happy-happy plants!
Dying back
I know the maturity date for Little Marvels is 60-65 days, but in general, how long are peas productive? I have a very small garden so I need to utilize the space well and once my peas die back, I will be tearing them out to make room for warm weather crops. Are peas productive for a week? A month?
how long will peas produce pods?
It’s hard to say exactly because it is somewhat weather dependent. Peas stop when temps get warm, especially when temps reach the 80s. Keep an eye on conditions and pick often to keep the plants producing for as long as possible but realize that you might sacrifice a few pods if an early hot spell rolls in.
No flowers on Peas
Hello,
My pea plant is growing, it’s at about 4 ft but it still hasn’t flowered. Everyone I know growing the same sort of peas have flowers and some pods. What am I doing wrong??
Sugar Ann
I’m planning to plant Sugar Ann this season for the first time. Can anyone offer any additional info about them?
Saint Patrick's Day
Here in South Australia Saint Patrick's Day is also a good time to plant peas even though our seasons are the reverse of the northern hemisphere. March 17 is early Autumn for us, so hopefully peas planted then will not be flowering during the periods of heavy frost. We grow peas as a winter crop here as even in spring the preferred temperature for peas can be exceeded, Saint Patrick's Day would be about the earliest you'd want plant peas here, but it's the time to get organised! For me it's usually tomatoes out, Sugarsnap peas in.
Planting peas
Trying to plant peas 2" apart is just plain foolish. The late Jim Crocket said words to the effect it doesn't matter one bit of the peas' shoulders touch each other. Not all peas are going to germinate anyway. This is from my experience of growing peas of all types (but primarily snap peas lately) for 38 seasons. I put down five pounds of seed in a 65 foot row that's about a foot wide...and they touch and love it! I cover them with State of Maine lobster compost. I have tremendous harvests from plants that grow almost to seven feet. They grow between two rows of soft nylon mesh trellis and pipe supports. When they're done, down they come. I drag them out as if the trellis mesh was a fisherman's net. Where they were becomes the main walkway for the middle of the garden. Try 2" apart with five pounds of seed. Good luck!
how far to space peas
You have certainly got a system that works. As it happens, the matter of space between peas when sowing can vary, depending on whom you ask. We suggest “about” 2 inches. Cornell University (an .edu that we consult often) suggests 1 to 4 inches apart. Other edu’s fall more in the 1 to 2 inch range. In local gardens, we’ve seen (and done) it with 2 inches and less. Sometimes when too close, we’ve seen some sprouts fail to thrive. Of course, lots more is at play here, including soil (we’ve heard the lobstah compost is terrific), sun, and water, among the considerations. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Growing Peas
Jim Crockett was a little before my time, but my Dad watched him and he gave me Jim's book a few years ago. I love that part of the book because he does essentially say he's been planting peas like that since he was a little boy. I follow his rule, the more seeds the merrier. I dig my 4" wide trench and just scatter them in there. I always have a great crop and it's a lot easier on the back and the rest of the body. He also mentions using sticks for pea brush.
Love Jim Crockett. I wish I could find copies of his old show somewhere.
watering
how many times a week should i water my plant?
Watering
That depends on a lot of factors, including the age of your plant (Are they seedlings or fully grown?), the weather (Has it been rainy or dry recently? Sunny or cloudy?), and your garden (Does the soil drain well or does it hold onto water?). Read our article on watering your vegetable garden for more information!
Pea watering
Peas require one inch of water per week which they generally receive with spring rains. If your area is dry, this regimen will be the easiest and best guide to follow. One can over water, but about an inch per week once pods set and flowers start to appear is reliable.
your Guidance for growing vegetables in Pune, India
I came across you recently and find it very useful and enjoyable. however I am located in Pune, india. Our weather Cycle is completely different from yours so is it possible for you to
give suggestions related to our weather? will appreciate your reply.
mrs. Rajul Kambuj.
Snow pea regrowth
I planted several snow pea seeds in the spring and each produced several pods. Shortly before the original vines turned yellow, they started producing new vines off of the original. Is this normal and should I cut off other dead vines and leaves that are not producing new vines?
snap peas
I just harvested peas from my terrace,beautiful. When I cooked them,ALL were very tough& stringy& inedible. The peas inside were good but the entire pod was to be eaten. What did I do wrong?
snap pea harvest
It might be that you harvested them too late. For snap peas, you don’t want the peas inside to develop quite so large as garden (English) peas, or the pods sometimes get tough. Some gardeners like to harvest them when the peas are about ½ mature size.
Peas, please!
My daughter begged me to buy some pea seeds at the dollar tree and add them to our garden this year since we expanded and added a larger raised bed after the very successful season we had last year for first time gardening, so I obliged and did a planting along with my bush beans. I have to admit that I didn't look into how they grow, but I staked them based on an experience with one snap pea plant I bought to test last year, and I'm so glad I did! Now they're growing so strong that I had to attach more stakes together and rig an arch/DIY trellis on the fly for them! I have my first pod growing so hopefully that will continue our success! 9+ plants for a 25 cent pack of seeds is probably the best bargain I've found all year! Possibly this decade!
Yellowing leaves on pea plants
Help! I just moved my seedlings into the ground about two weeks ago and have noticed the plant and leaves are turning yellow! We have had a pretty hot streak this week, so I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it. Any suggestions? I'm in Coarsegold, California.
yellow leaves
Pea leaves can turn yellow for several reasons. Most likely, however, it is the stress of establishing themselves in hot weather (they like cool). You might provide a little partial shade, such as shade cloth, during the hottest time of day to help them recover, and make sure they have a proper amount of water. Also check for any pests, such as aphids, that might be attacking.
Peas finished or not producing?
I'm in the Dallas area and planted peas the last week of March. Full growth, some pods, then the army of aphids. I resorted to the insecticide method for control and won. Very few flowers and pods now. Is my season over or did the aphids steal my crop?
Peas & beans not germinating
I've been gardening for many years.
The past couple of years I am suddenly having an issue where my legumes, peas & beans, are not germinating. I am growing in a large raised bed. I always use nitrogen innoculant with legumes. I've planted several varieties of each, fresh seed. I think sometimes they may be rotting in the soil as no sprouting & if I dig them up often the seed is gone. Watering normally etc.
Very odd, I'm totally puzzled add too what is going on and how to resolve it.
Any suggestions?
seed troubles
Could an animal, such as a mouse or vole, be eating the sown seeds? Sometimes they are known to eat pea seeds and others in the garden. To control, here are some suggestions:
http://www.almanac.com/pest/mice
http://www.almanac.com/pest/voles
Birds and squirrels may also be a problem.
Make sure that the seeds are planted at the correct depth and optimum conditions are provided. Also check to make sure that the soil is not too cold; if planted too early, beans, for example, will not germinate well. They like soil temperature at least 60F, and on up to about 85F. Peas like it around 75F, but can germinate at between 40 and 85F; at less optimum temperatures, they’ll germinate more slowly.
Hope this helps!
No sign of pests
The soil is totally undisturbed, no signs of digging, holes in the ground, nothing. I only plant peas & spinach in cool spring weather. The beans have to wait till it's warmer. Planted peas 2.5c weeks ago, 2 different kinds, followed depth instructions. Spinach germinated just fine. Not a single pea plant or sprout. Just bizarre
peas being cut off
my peas were being cut off and we found that a rabbit was eating them.
rabbits in the peas
Our best recommendation is chicken wire fencing. It may be too late for the peas, but it’s not too late to secure your later crops (greens? lettuce?). Dogs, cats, red/black pepper, garlic powder, even human hair are suggested many times, but the fence may be the most effective.
Snow peas
My snow peas are being cut off after emerging. They are less than an inch tall. What could be doing that and what can I do to prevent it? Thank you!
rabbit defense
Our best recommendation is chicken wire fencing. It may be too late for the peas, but it’s not too late to secure your later crops (greens? lettuce?). Dogs, cats, red/black pepper, garlic powder, even human hair are suggested many times, but the fence may be the most effective
Luscious vines, no peas
I have a beautiful 5' fence in the middle of my garden, which is thick and full of pea vines, but very few peas. They have always produced well in winter (in Arizona), organic, heavily composted soil. Last year I added about 300 lbs. of coffee grounds to the soil and did not solarize during the summer, as usual. Would either of these affect the production of peas? It looks like every seed germinated and flourished.
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