What makes peas grow

Once the pods and peas are completely dry, strip the pods from the plants and shell out by hand. For a larger crop, place the pods in a burlap sack and thresh by hitting the bag with a stick. The seeds are likely to have some chaff once separated from the pods and plants. Winnowing is the process of removing little bits of plant material from the seed. Take the seeds outdoors on a dry, windy day and pour them from container to container, allowing the wind to blow through the stream of seeds.

The wind will blow away the lightweight plant fiber. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Home Yard and garden Find plants Vegetables Growing peas. Peas need less fertilizer than other crops. Plant seeds as soon as the ground has thawed and the soil is workable.

As soon as you pick the peas, cool them quickly. They will keep in the refrigerator for a week or more. Soil pH and fertility. Open all Close all. Soil testing and fertilizer Have your soil tested. If your soil tests high in phosphorus, use a low phosphorus such as , 3, or or no phosphorus such as or fertilizer. Many soils, from sandy to heavy clay, are good for peas as long as you have well-drained soil.

Peas grow best in soil with a pH between 6 and 7. Use well-rotted manure or compost at planting. Continuous use of high phosphorus fertilizer such as or , or high rates of manure or manure compost results in phosphorus buildup in the soil. Although phosphate fertilizer applied to soil is bound tightly and resistant to movement in the soil, some runoff may occur. It can then become a major pollution concern in our lakes, rivers and streams.

Do not use any fertilizer containing a weed killer "Weed and Feed" , as it may kill your vegetable plants. Selecting plants. Choosing pea varieties Nearly all pea varieties on the market are open-pollinated, rather than hybrids.

Starting seeds The season for pea growing is short wherever a cool spring turns quickly to a hot summer, as it does in much of Minnesota.

Below are some tips for planting peas: Plant the seed as soon as the soil has thawed and is workable. Plant tall, vining varieties at the base of the trellis in a single row. Trellises can have two vertical stakes with either string or netting between them.

You can plant shorter bush types in a single row near a trellis. You can also plant them in a wide row, between 12 and 18 inches wide, where the plants will cling to and support each other. Treat the pea seed carefully. Cracked seeds are unlikely to germinate, especially in the cool, moist soil of early spring.

Place the seeds in a shallow trench, six to seven inches apart. For a wide row, broadcast the seed over the prepared seedbed, with seeds about two inches apart in all directions. Evenly place the seeds into a narrow trench in the soil. Make sure they are at a uniform depth and cover them with one inch of soil.

Firm the soil over the seeds. You may make a second planting a week later, and another a week after that, for a longer harvest period. How to keep your pea plants healthy and productive. Watering Because peas grow during a wetter and cooler time of year, you may not need to water them at all.

During dry springs, you may need to water for good pea growth. Try to water the soil, not the vines, to prevent disease. Soak the soil when watering, to a depth of at least one inch each week during the growing season. Sandy soils may need watering more often. Mulching three to four inches deep with grass clippings, weed-free straw, or other organic material will help keep soil moisture and prevent weeds.

Cover the seeds with soil, water well and label the row. The seedlings should appear in one or two weeks. Alternatively, start plants indoors in autumn to avoid seeds being eaten by pests. An easy way to ensure you end up with a straight row is to sow into a length of guttering. An alternative to sowing peas outdoors is to raise plants under cover. One of the easiest methods is to sow the seeds in a length of guttering, then simply slide the whole row into the ground once the plants are big enough.

Peas climb using shoots called tendrils, which they wrap around just about anything they come into contact with, so choose supports that are thin enough for the tendrils to wind around.

Large twigs, known as pea sticks, are the traditional choice, but a row of netting makes a good alternative. Peas should be ready to harvest about three months after sowing.

Other types are ready once the pods are swollen with peas. Pick the pods from the bottom of the plant upwards, as the lowest are the most mature. Use two hands to avoid damaging the plant. If you have a glut, you can freeze them. Peas can be steamed or boiled and served with mint and a knob of butter. Add them to recipes, such as risotto or pasta, during the last few minutes of cooking. Pea moth can lead to an unpleasant infestation of maggots, but the risk is reduced if you sow early October to mid-February or late June and July.

See our tips on growing peas from sowing to harvest! Peas are very easy to grow but their growing period is limited to cool weather. Plus, peas do not stay fresh long after harvest, so enjoy their taste as soon as you can!

Did you know: St. The key to growing peas is to plant them early enough in spring so they mature while the weather is still cool. However, they can also be grown as a fall or winter crop in warmer regions. Learn more about Companion Planting. Learn all about growing peas in our video demonstration and then see instructions in the guide below.

Water peas sparsely with no more than 1 inch per week, unless plants are wilting. But also do not let the plants dry out; if this happens, no pods will be produced. Pea leaves turn yellow for several reasons. Often, this is due to the stress of hot weather. Provide partial shade e. Fertilizing plants is not usually required if the plants are mulched deeply with grass clippings, shredded leaves, or another biodegradable material.

Sweet Peas : Also known as garden or shelling peas, these are the most common type of peas available. Some good varieties to try include:. Snap Peas : You eat the entire tender pod of snap peas. Some good varieties to try are:. Snow Peas : Common in Chinese cooking, these flat-podded peas have edible pods. Cooking times vary greatly depending on when the green peas were harvested. Young, small ones require less cooking than older, starchy ones. To steam, put 1 inch of water in a pot, bring to a boil, place a steaming basket in the pan, slowly add peas to the steaming basket, and cover with a lid.

Steam for about 2 minutes. To microwave, put 2 tablespoons of water in a microwavable dish and cover. Microwave on high, checking every 2 minutes for doneness. I picked a few that are developed inside but still in pod. Can I use these for planting next year? I know I should have left them on the vine. Can I let them dry and use or just eat them now? 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? 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! We converted a single car garage into my greenhouse here in Pine, AZ zone 7B Heated by a portable heater at night and cooled by fan in day IF it is a sunny, warm day.

Feeding Chicken Soup for the Soil and side dressed with compost. Happy-happy plants! I know the maturity date for Little Marvels is 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? 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.

Everyone I know growing the same sort of peas have flowers and some pods. What am I doing wrong?? Can anyone offer any additional info about them? 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. 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 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! 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.

Cornell University an. Thanks for sharing your experience. Jim Crockett was a little before my time, but my Dad watched him and he gave me Jim's book a few years ago.