How to Grow Peas - Bentley Seeds

Peas are easy to grow and thrive in the cooler temperatures of spring and fall, making them a popular choice among both new and experienced home gardeners.

Check out all our peas varieties: Oregon Sugar Pod Seed, Sugar Ann Snap Seed, Little Marvel – Shelling Seed

Pea Plants – A Variety for all Tastes

Pea Plants - A Variety for all Tastes

We offer three varieties of pea plant seed varieties to suit specific tastes and growing environments. Sugar Ann Snap pea plants feature bushy vines that produce an edible pod. They are well-suited for small gardens and don’t need support. The Oregon Sugar Pod is a favorite snow pea that also features sweet, edible pods. It benefits from being staked or trellised. We also offer a popular shell pea (also known as an English pea): Little Marvel.

Interesting Facts About Peas Plants

Peas—Pisum sativum—are an annual vegetable (make that fruit—actually) and member of the legume family (Fabaceae or Leguminosae). Other members of this very large family include beans, chickpeas, peanuts, clover, and alfalfa, to name a few.

There is evidence that peas are among the oldest cultivated vegetables in the world going back to 9750 BC. Their consumption by humans has been traced back to an area between Burma and Thailand. Archeological excavations have revealed their evidence throughout the ages in a variety of regions throughout the Mid East and Europe.

Fast forward to the late 1800’s, peas were one of the first vegetables to be canned by the Campbell Soup Company, though that wasn’t their finest presentation. Peas were much more palatable as a frozen vegetable, introduced about 50 years later.

Peas are nitrogen-fixing plants. That means they absorb—or “fix”—a portion of the nitrogen they need from the air. When the plants have finished growing and are left to decompose in the garden, their nitrogen will be returned to the soil to help companion and future crops.

Peas Gardening Tips

Difficulty

Easy.

Sun

Full sun or light shade (6-8 hours sunlight minimum).

Water

Keep soil consistently moist (but not soaked) when seeds are first planted. After the plants start to grow, they prefer deep, regular, infrequent watering.

Soil

Average soil with added organic matter. Soil pH should be 5.5–6.8. Peas require warm soil temperatures to grow: 70° and above.

Air

40°F to 75°F (cooler is better)

Timing

Young pea plants can tolerate frost so the seeds can be direct sown outside relatively early in spring when the soil and average ambient air temperature are above 40°F.

Planting

Direct sow plant seeds according to seed packet instructions.

Germination

Time from sowing to germination depends on soil temperature. Warmer=faster.

Time to Harvest

Approximately 60 days after planting (depending on air temperature).

Feeding

Peas are light feeders; it is unnecessary to fertilize them.

Mulch

Mulch is helpful in order to keep the soil cool and moist.

Pests & Diseases

Peas are naturally pest resistant; keep an eye out for aphids.

Special Considerations

Peas prefer the cool weather of early spring and fall and will stop producing in the heat of summer. Rotate crops every year or two.

Companion Plants

These plants will be aided by the availability of nitrogen in the soil: Beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, and radishes. Onions are not a good companion and will stunt the peas’ growth.

Container-Friendly

Yes, in a large container. Be sure to keep them well watered.

Harvesting Peas

Harvesting Harvest as soon as the pods fill out and start to look plump. And, remember, the more you pick, the more pods will develop. Harvested pods can be stored in the coolest part of the fridge for about a week or so.

Growing Peas—Highlights

Each of our three pea plant varieties thrives in the cool temperatures of early spring and fall.
Sow the seeds in very early spring and late summer for two crops in one season.
Peas will stop producing in hot weather so be sure to plant them early enough to reap a full harvest before the onset of soaring mid-summer temperatures.
Sow pea seeds directly in the outdoor garden; they don’t transplant well.
Pick frequently at maturity to encourage production of new pods.
Peas are good for you—high in fiber and chockablock full of various nutrients such as vitamins K, C, and A, as well as thiamin and folate and carotenoid phytonutrients to promote eye health and vision.

Our Peas Varieties

Peas - Little Marvel - Shelling Seed From 1.79

Resource Categories

Ingredients

9 cups peeled and chopped tomatoes (peel first, see below)
2 1/2 cups chopped green bell peppers
2 1/2 cups chopped white onion
4 medium jalapeños, chopped (substitute 2 of the jalapeños for 2 cayenne peppers for extra hot salsa)
8 large cloves garlic, chopped
6 teaspoons canning salt
1 cup white vinegar
1 (12 ounce) can tomato paste

Instructions

Remove tomato skins. Make an “X” in the bottom of the tomatoes, then place in boiling water for 60 seconds. Then, remove the tomatoes from the water and place directly into an ice bath. The skins should slip right off.
Make the salsa. Place all of the ingredients in a large pot and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until thickened and cooked.
Prepare cans to be sealed. Transfer the cooked salsa into clean, sterile jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Use a funnel for this. Wipe rims of jars and, then place lids on top.
Process with a water bath. Bring a large saucepan filled with water to a boil. Your saucepan needs to be tall enough to have the water cover the jars by 2 inches.