How to Grow Peas

Snow peas, sugar snap peas and garden peas are planted when soil temperatures are 40-75 degrees. In northern areas this is as soon as ground can be worked in the Spring. In the south, that means the middle of January until the middle of February. Plant peas directly into the ground because they germinate well and there are few insects active at this time to affect the new plants. Watch out for deer and rabbits if you live in a rural area.

Treat or inoculate the pea seeds with a bacteria inoculant specific to peas. You simply dampen the seeds and roll them around in the black inoculant before planting. The inoculant is a beneficial bacteria that helps the peas obtain nitrogen from the soil. It is available at farm and ranch feed stores or better plant nurseries. It is inexpensive and a little goes a long way.

Plant the seeds one-half inch to one-inch apart and one-inch deep in garden soil treated with a granulated organic fertilizer. Although pea plants can generate their own nitrogen in warm soil, it is hard to come by in cool soil, so a little organic fertilizer is appreciated by baby pea plants.

Peas must be trellised. Plant on the north side of a trellis if your trellis runs east to west. Otherwise, the north wind will keep them on the ground. You will probably still have to tie them up with plastic garden ties or jute.

The main difference between the kinds of peas is when they are harvested. Harvest snow peas when the pods are big and flat, but the peas are still small. Allowing the peas to fill out the pods makes them stringy and taste bitter.

Sugar snap peas are harvested when the pods are full but the peas are still immature. You have to check the plants everyday because they mature quickly. If you've never grown sugar snaps, then taste a few, pods and all, and you'll know what perfection is when you bite down on the sweetest thing you've ever grown. Garden peas or English peas are picked when the pods are full but the peas are still tender. Don't wait until the pods start to split or you've waited too long. In all cases, pick often because once the plants produce peas, they stop producing unless the peas are picked.

The most common disease is white powdery mildew. For control, spray affected leaves with neem oil at the first sign of the disease.

Companion plants are carrots, parsley, radish, spinach and turnip. Avoid planting with onions or potatoes.