Peas Garden Guide

Peas Stat Summary

Plant Spacing: 1-2" (25-50 mm)
Row Spacing: 18-24" (457-609 mm)
Planting Depth: 1-1.5" (25-38 mm)
Plants Per Person: 20
Soil Temperature: 40-75°F (4-24°C)
Days to Emergence: 6-14
Recommended Soil PH: 6.0-7.0
Earliest Outdoor Planting: After Last Frost
Can direct seed outdoors

Planting Peas

Prefers cool damp weather and well-drained soil, average fertility, high in organic matter with pH 6.0 to 7.0. As soon as the soil can be worked in the spring, sow seeds 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep with 1 inch spacing between plants; rows should be 1 1/2 to 2 feet apart. If you plant a climbing variety, install a trellis right after sowing the seeds to avoid plant damage later. It is easier to harvest bush type peas if they are placed on a low trellis.

Growing Peas

Place mulch around the small plants and frequently ground water the peas; overhead watering can cause foliage damage due to disease. Keep soil moist, but avoid heavy watering during flowering, which can interfere with pollination.

Harvesting and Storing Peas

Pick snow peas when the pods have reached their full length but are still quite flat with immature seeds inside, about 5 to 7 days after flowering. Harvest sugar snap peas when the pods first start to fatten but before the seeds grow very large; gather shell peas before the pods become waxy. Peas are tastiest if eaten immediately after harvesting; however, if peas need to be stored, cool immediately by placing in a location at 32 degrees F with 95% relative humidity.

Peas Insect and Disease Information

In addition to mulching, trellises and proper plant spacing for adequate air flow, the practice of crop rotation is the best line of defense against various wilts and mildews. The pea aphid can be removed with a hard stream of water; spray plants early in the day to maximize the time they have to thoroughly dry.

Peas Yield Information

No yield information for Peas.