Garden peas & their relatives, snow peas & sugar snaps, are among the earliest vegetables gardeners can plant for spring harvest. These simple & productive crops can be grown by anyone with a small sunny area & can be sown outdoors without protection in early Spring.
Peas grow best in full sun & well-drained soil that is not too acidic, ideally with a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Pea seed germinate when soil temperatures reach 45ºF. Seed planted in colder soils will sit in the ground until temperatures warm.
Soaking pea seeds in water for 6-8 hours immediately before planting will help them germinate faster but not absolutely necessary. Seeds may also be treated with Rhizobium inoculant, a natural bacterium that helps peas & other legumes convert nitrogen from the air into a form plants can use. If you are planting peas in an area where peas or beans have not grown before, treating pea seeds with inoculant before planting may improve growth. Pea inoculum can be purchased from garden centers or online seed companies.
To apply inoculant simply pour some into a bag, add seeds & shake until the peas are coated. Immediately plant treated seed in the garden. Sow seeds an inch deep and 1-2 inches (3-5cm) apart. Water well after sowing & keep the soil moist until seedlings begin to emerge.
Garden peas & sugar snaps are of the best quality when they are fully expanded but immature, before they become hard & starchy. Snow peas should be harvested when the pods are still flat. Pick garden peas immediately before you plan to shell, cook or freeze them – their quality & sweetness deteriorates rapidly; Sugar snaps & snow peas keep longer – pods stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 days post-harvest will taste almost as good as those freshly picked.
Garden, snap and snow peas that mature when temperatures are above 80º will be starchy and tough, through snap and snow peas typically tolerate warmer temperatures better than garden peas.
Article: North Carolina Cooperative Ext. via Extension Master Gardener
Written by Charlotte Glen, Extension Agent, Agriculture - Horticulture
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