Peas are a sweet, crunchy vegetable to eat, pod and all. It is an easy-to-grow crop that grows best in the cool days of autumn and winter.

Peas are multipurpose vegetables that are available in several heights. The taller varieties need a sturdy trellis to climb up, while the dwarf types require no support. Semi-dwarfs need only chicken wire or sturdy twigs.

Planted through the autumn, Peas use tendrils to climb and produce small white flowers that mature to Pea pods.

Harvest the pods when Peas have begun to develop and fill out the pods, roughly two weeks after flowering. Since sugars in the pods start turning to starch as soon as they are picked, it is best to eat Peas right away. Regular picking will encourage more pods to form.

Peas are ideal for successive plantings which will extend your harvest season. Be sure to prepare the planting bed a few weeks in advance of actual sowing.

Tall varieties of Peas are had to harvest and prone to disease if they sprawl on the ground. For healthy, easy-to-pick crops, erect a 1.5-2 meter trellis. Pound stakes every 2 meters or so along the row and tie a length of pea and bean netting to the stakes.

Pods may not form if soil dries out. Keep the soil surrounding Pea plants moist but not wet. Pull plants up and compost when summer heat causes them to stop flowering or to become brown and withered.

Planting Peas

1. Prepare the planting area in early autumn by clearing weeks and rubble. Spread 2-5cm of compost and dig to 20-25 cm deep.

2. Plant the first row of Peas, poking seeds into the soil, 5cm apart and 5cm deep. Plant successive rows every two to three weeks.

3. Poke well-branched, brushy twigs into the soil along the row to provide support. For tall types, erect a sturdy trellis for support.

4. Train the plants onto their supports when they are 8-10cm tall by gently twining the tendrils around the twigs or the trellis.

Harvest Peas with scissors or a sharp knife when the Peas have just begun to develop and fill out their pods. Never handpick or pull them off the vines. Repeated tugging of the plant can loosen or even damage their roots, which in turn invites disease and decreases yields.

Purchasing tips

Buy several seed varieties with varying maturation times to stretch out the harvest. Purchase disease-resistant varieties for late spring and autumn crops. Avoid seedling Pea plants that have brittle roots and do not transplant well.

Growing conditions

Full sun to partial shade: Peas grow best with cool conditions and at least a half-day of full sun. Loose, well-drained soil is a must. Add plenty of compost at planting time and work into the top 20-25cm of the soil to ensure good drainage.

Extra tips

To improve Pea yields, sprinkle dolomite lime over the planting area several weeks before sowing the seeds. Look for heirloom varieties that have unusual pods and will provide greater culinary interest.

Seasonal tips

Early spring: Planting

Extend your harvest by planting several small crops two weeks apart. Stop planting in early winter in cooler districts.

Spring: Watering and harvesting

Once the plants begin to flower, keep well watered. Pods may not form if the soil is too dry. Harvest every day or every other day to keep Pea plants bearing as long as possible.

Late summer: Preparing the soil

Get the soil into good condition as the summer crops finish, by digging in manure and then sprinkling the planting are with dolomite lime.

Plant doctor

Powdery mildew causes a powdery, white coating on the leaves. It can be a problem, even on mildew-resistant varieties, in humid weather. Provide good air circulation or spray your Pea plants with a sulfur fungicide to control the disease.

Learn more about this author, Janette Peel.
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