Planting peas 2-20-2010
by Farmer Dave
(Northern California)
Planting peas
Its only mid February but spring is in the air. Today it is warm (about 60 degrees) and sunny! Planting fever has struck, so we put in some peas. It is always good to take advantage of warm February days as more storms and cold weather are sure to come.
PEAS are some of my favorites and there are edible pod and sweet peas. Both kinds have bush or trellis varieties. I like the sugar snap variety best. You can eat the whole thing, pods, peas and all or you can shell out the peas.
SOIL AND AMENDMENTS- Peas grow well in any garden soil and they should not get too much nitrogen or your plants will look great but have few peas.
You can add a little phosphorus for a more abundant pea crop and I like to add some ashes before planting. Pot ash helps strengthen the stems and roots.
CULTURE- Peas are some of the first plants we plant in our gardens by seed. Plant peas 1? deep and 2-3? apart, in multiple rows (up to 6) in a bed 3 ft wide. Plant your Peas mid February to mid - March, then plant successions every two or three weeks until mid April.
We like to plant in a dry spell. Peas tend to mold and rot if planted in wet or cold conditions. The first planting should be sprouted in a jar until they have tiny white tails. You can do this by soaking the seeds overnight, pouring off the water then rinsing them for a day or two. We like to do this as it gives them a good start if it is still cold out. Check your peas after ten days to see if they are sprouting and replant if necessary.
There are bush and trellis varieties of sugar snap peas. If you choose a trellis variety it is best to put up your trellis before planting. You can put up the trellis once the peas have sprouted if you just couldn?t get around to it before planting its just easier to put up the trellis first.
HARVEST- Edible pod varieties can be harvested when the peas begin to fill out and are great raw or steamed. Sugar snap peas are a particularly good edible pod variety and it can also be left to mature and then the peas can be shelled. Other varieties of peas should be left to fully mature before they are shelled for cooking or freezing.
SPRING IS ON THE WAY---HAPPY DAYS
