In Zone 9 the winter is here, and with that comes a few winter crops. Peas are one of the most popular, and also one of the easiest to grow. There are many types of peas, but this guide will concentrate on shelling peas!
Soil
Peas are part of the legume family, and as such they produce their own nitrogen (well, bacteria does it for them, but you get the point). The soil they are planted in should not be overly rich in nitrogen, but well balanced.
Make sure that peas are not grown in the same area other legumes were in the last few months, rotate those crops.
Seed
Pea seeds should be sown directly into the soil. They are a cool weather vegetable, so they should be sown in the fall, or early winter. Place the seeds about ¼” deep and keep the soil moist. They should germinate in a week or two.
Streaking
Peas are climbing vines and need to have something to climb. A 4-5’ tall piece of bamboo works great for this. After the seed has germinated drive one end of the bamboo into the soil directly behind the pea plant. As it grows train it to grow up the steak!
Fertilizer
Peas will not need much fertilizer if the soil is of good quality. A high quality compost mix works well for peas.
Harvest
Peas are ready to harvested when the pods are think and plump and the peas inside the pod can be easily distinguished when touched. Once the peas are ready to be harvested, grab the pod and pinch just above it. That will release the pod from the plant!
NOW ENJOY SOME PEAS!
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