Proper "Pea"-caution

It may seem strange to read about growing vegetables this time of year, but with the proper "pea caution,” it can be done successfully.

Yes, the garden pea has such an extensive history as a cultivated crop that one would assume everyone would know how to grow them by now. But there are several keys. One of them is to get that first spring crop in as early as possible. This means for gardeners in long-season areas like us, you can start to get your first crop in right about now. However, another key is not to plant in wet or soggy soil. Make sure your soil is well-draining, with plenty of peat moss or organic compost to counter-act mud. Too wet will lead to the pea’s primary enemy: rot.

Peas can grow when soil temperatures are in the 40s during the day. When sown in temperatures below 40 degrees, germination may take as long as 36 days. However, at temperatures of 50 degrees, which is common locally, seeds will germinate in just nine days.

Another key is not to pre-soak peas. Presoaking in water is like hitting the seeds with a hammer. The outside expands faster than the inside, breaking the seed apart. It’s also best to sow pea seeds shallowly at no more than an inch deep, and plant thickly, too. In order to keep peas on your plate for as long as possible, sow several plantings throughout spring and into summer.

Ever since Sugar Snap hit the market way back in 1979, edible-podded snap peas have become standard fare. In fact, many home gardeners have forsaken the traditional shelling varieties in favor of the eat-straight-from-the-vine snap types.

Your other choice involves height. Many gardeners plant only dwarf types that grow to one to two feet. Semi-dwarf types are two to three feet, and tall varieties that need to be staked are three feet or more.

A personal favorite way to grow peas involves a mass planting in a small bed, maybe three by eight feet. The vines intertwine and help lend support to each other. To harvest, I sit on an overturned bucket in the middle of the bed and pull each plant toward me. I pick my way around!

Whatever or however you grow peas, you won’t reap the full flavor unless you harvest them at their best. Like corn, peas quickly convert their sugars to starch. It’s important to pick them just as they get fully round.

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