Growing Peas

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Ideally, the best time to start growing peas is in the spring. It takes peas just over a month to germinate at 41°F but less growing time is needed if the temperatures are higher. Most varieties of growing peas will, in fact, actually stop producing pods should the temperature exceed 70°F.

Peas like to sprout in the warmth and grow in the cool air. Because of this they tend to grow poorly in cool soil, so sometimes it may be necessary to replicate nature by allowing them to germinate indoors, before planting them in your backyard or whatever area you have chosen for growing peas in.

To do this, you will need to soak your pea seeds in a cup of water overnight, drain the water, and then leave them to start germinating – usually within 3 to 5 days.

During this period, you are advised to rinse them everyday to prevent mould.

Some people also swear by coating the seeds with an inoculant prior to planting them in cooler soils. It’s said to cause the seeds to germinate at a quicker rate. This is, of course, not necessary for summer-planted peas, because warm soil usually has adequate nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

If you’re going to plant them in the summer, when the weather conditions are hot and dry, adding plenty of compost or well-rotted manure will help to improve the soil’s moisture-retaining ability.

When the seeds are ready for planting, dig shallow rows (2cm deep) and sow the seeds in these rows, three or four inches apart – especially for taller varieties – other varieties may be sown closer together.

Next, cover the soil before watering the peas in and then erect bamboo canes, netting or a trellis to create support for the growing plants as well as to protect them against marauding squirrels or birds. When the shoots grow to two or three inches high, loosely tie them to the canes and netting.

Dwarf and semi-leafless varieties may not need support and can be sown in
small blocks.

Harvest in June to September when the pods fill out and the peas are bright
green – usually this happens 12 to 14 weeks after planting. In case you’re not sure if they are ready to be picked, open a pod and taste the peas. Do not pull the plant after harvest, instead dig the roots into the soil or simply cut the stems off at ground level – this will allow it to decompose slowly and release nitrogen back into the soil for other plants.

The early varieties will usually be ready for harvesting in June or July – 10 to 12 weeks after planting. However this will depend on what the weather was like during the growing season.

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