Peas are one of the first crops we plant. Plant as soon as the ground can be worked—even if snow falls after you plant them! Here’s our guide on how to plant, grow, and harvest peas.
There are three varieties of peas that will suit your garden and cooking needs:
- Pisum savitum, which includes both types of garden peas: sweet peas (inedible pods) and snow peas (edible flat pods with small peas inside).
- Pisum macrocarpon, snap peas (edible pods with full-size peas).
Pea plants are easy to grow, but have a very limited growing season. Furthermore, peas do not stay fresh long after harvest, so enjoy them while you can!
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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.
peas, please
Peas do not need—or usually want—”good” soil, which is to say the kind of soil that so many other plants love—composted soil. Peas perform best with little attention. The coffee grounds, especially such a quantity may have upset the balance of your soil, adding nitrogen which encourages leaf/foliage growth. Sounds like a little too much of a good thing. In future, compost the coffee grounds and use the results on other plants.
Oregon Sugar Pod II
I am currently germinating my peas (don't ask why, it's science-related) and I very stupidly put them in a water temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Do you think I should restart or is there a chance that the peas could sprout?
Peas in hot water
Hmm. 102F is lukewarm water. I’m not sure if the seeds will be happy, but if they were not in the warm water for long, some may still sprout. However, I think you might get reduced germination rates. Peas do not germinate well above 85F soil temperature. Being exposed to overly warm temperatures may also cause other physiological changes. For the sake of a science experiment, it might be better to start over. You could still test these as well, too, to compare (might be an interesting experiment in itself). Good luck!
how big
i have a small pea plant growing in a small pot and i am wondering if they get really big so i know to transplant it soon.
Transplanting Peas
Although peas don’t like their roots disturbed, and therefore usually are planted directly in the garden, gardeners have had success growing them indoors and then transplanting out when weather is more cooperative. To do this, there are several methods, one of the most common being starting the seeds in peat pots which can then be transplanted, pot and all, into the garden; the pot will disintegrate over time, which lessens the disturbance to plant roots. Another method is described here:
http://www.almanac.com/video/get-growing-early-peas
How big a pot you’ll need and when you’ll need to transplant will depend on the variety of pea, the size of the current pot, and whether you plan to grow your peas outside or if they will be completely container-grown. In general, bush peas can grow about 18 or so inches high. There are also those that grow up to about 24 or 30 inches. Pole types can grow 4 to 6 feet, or more, and will need support. You can transplant peas into the garden any time after they are 4 inches tall; or about 4 to 6 weeks after starting seeds. Place in the garden no earlier than 4 weeks before the last expected spring frost.
OLD PEAS
Do older peas or beans germinate better in warmer soils?, soaked ? inoculated?
Have had some luck with warmer soils on non soaked or inoculated beans and peas.
Germinating older seeds
I’m not sure if an inoculant would help the seed to sprout; it’s my guess that it is more to help the plant once it forms roots (which is where the nitrogen-fixing bacteria make their home). However, soaking and warmth often can encourage older seeds that are still viable to sprout. You might try soaking the seeds overnight in warm (not hot) water, and then planting in warm soil. Beans especially like soil temps around 80 to 85F. Peas like soil temps around 75F. Good luck!
Looking for Bibliography Resources
May you please help us find the Author of this internet article and date of publication? This article is good for my school science fair but I cannot find the Bibliography Resources. - Thank You
“The Old Farmer’s Almanac” is
“The Old Farmer’s Almanac” is the author. This article is constantly updated so you could use the current year as the retrieval date. This is a Web site so you wouldn’t follow the traditional reference style. Use the article title in double quotes, and then add the URL (link) of this page.
good afternoon
what month is a good time to plant snap pea and green bean.
Thank you
When to Plant
The best time to plant depends on your location. Go to our planting calendar (click here) and enter your location to find the best months for you for snap peas and green beans.
Pulling Finished Pea Plants
What is best to do with the pea plants after they are finished producing? Do I wait till they turn yellow, or can I pull as soon as the crop is finished? I didn't know if, like soybeans, they add nutrients to the soil simply by growing there. In which case the longer they grow, the more they'd be beneficial to the soil. I noticed that though my plants are now finished bearing (late July) they are actually putting out new growth from the base of the plant. This surprised me and I wanted to know more about the benefits of leaving the plants in the soil. I was planning to use their bed for planting fall(ish) beets.
Did you get an answer?
Hi, Eva, I have every question you asked here too!....When to pull up? Should I leave them? Why the new growth? And one question now to add...did you get an answer? Cheers Annie
Turn over your pea planting
Turn over your pea planting beds in the fall, add manure to the soil, and mulch well. As with other legumes, pea roots will fix nitrogen in the soil, making it available for other plants.
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