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Peas are loaded with nutrients and minerals including manganese, vitamin K and vitamin C. They are a great source of dietary fiber and are delicious in many recipes. Include them with any type of green salad or sauteed dishes mixed with mushrooms, carrots or almonds. Not only do they taste wonderful, but they are also very easy to grow.

The garden pea, a legume, originated in Middle Asia, the Near East and Ethiopia, where wild relatives and cultvated types can still be found. Our varieties came from types developed in England. Peas are known as "English Peas" in the South to differentiate them from cowpeas.

English Peas

English peas are a cool-season crop. They are grown in early spring to mid-summer in the cooler sections, but in fall, winter and very early spring in the warmer areas. Low-growing varieties, such as the snow pea, can be grown without staking and are the easiest to handle. Tall growers, such as the yardlong bean or asparagus bean, need 36 inches apart on either side of the trellis.

Cow Peas

Cowpeas or southern table peas have a more distinctive flavor than garden peas. They require heat with warm days and warm nights. They will suffer damage from even the slightest frost. Plant when the soil is warmed up for better germination. Cowpeas are usually picked in the green-shell stage, when the seeds are fully developed but not yet hard. They can be allowed to ripen and stored as dried peas.

How to Grow Peas

Pea plants will naturally draw nitrogen from the soil so there is no need to add it to the soil. Pick a sunny location that gets little or no wind. It is not a good idea to plant near a wall or fence because peas thrive on lots of moisture. Always provide a growing medium such as a trellis, chicken wire or even sticks for any size pea plant. They will always do much better than trying to vine along the earth.

Plant rows 18-24 inches apart. Seeds go one inch deep and can be presoaked in tempid water for 4 hours to speed up germination time. Harvest peas from the bottom of the plant first, and gradually work your way up as the plant grows. This will allow you continual growth of fresh peas throughout one season.

Good luck with growing your peas this year! Remember, to get the most yield, regularly pick ripened peas from your plant starting at the base. You will enjoy this delicious treat throughout the gardening season and still have enough to store for next year. Peas can be blanched or frozen for up to 6 months.

Build Your Own Pea Trellis

Pea Recipes

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