Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
and canning. Dry peas (convar.
sativum
) have smooth, yellow or green seeds that are high in starch;
their pods too have a parchment layer. They are dried for later cooking. The third kind are snap peas
(convar.
axiphium
); these are eaten like green beans, with the pod, which develops no parchment layer.
Unripe pods are very tender when they are young and can be eaten raw or steamed; snow peas and
sugar snap peas fall under this category. Shell and snap pea seeds, once dried, do not soften when
cooked.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
• 50 plants
• trellis
• ideally a growing environment free of pea weevils (rare)
POLLINATION NOTES
Peas are fairly strict self-pollinators, though insects (honeybees and bumble-
bees) can cause cross-pollination. Grow different varieties at least 50 ft. (15 m) apart. Flowers are
greenish white, pink, or purplish red to violet.
GROWING FOR SEED
When growing for seed, space plants 8 in. (20 cm) apart, more than when grow-
ing for food, so that individual plants can be better assessed. Provide something for the peas to climb.
Dry peas can handle light frosts and can be sown in early spring when the ground has reached 35-41°F
(2-5°C). Shell and snap peas are more sensitive to cold; wait until midspring when soil temperatures
are 41-46°F (5-8°C) to sow these. As for many other species, the warmer the soil, the faster peas will
germinate. Still, sow all pea varieties as soon as practicable so that the plants can grow for as long as
possible in short-day conditions. Peas are long-day plants: flowering is encouraged when days are
long, discouraged when days are short. When peas are sown later, temperatures are often too high
when the plants are in bloom. When temperatures climb above 86°F (30°C), pods cease to develop. Do
not grow peas immediately after other peas or legumes. We have had the best experience with select-
ing individual plants to harvest seed from and harvesting only seed from these plants (flag young, still-
green plants). Harvest pods for eating only from plants that have not been flagged. In Switzerland
there are also many winter pea varieties, which are sown in late autumn/early winter and overwinter in
the field as small plants, much like winter grain. Cover with row cover or straw when extreme temper-
atures threaten. Winter peas at Pro Specie Rara had no problem with a winter when temperatures never
rose above 32°F (0°C) and dropped as low as 5°F (−15°C) for a period of six weeks.
Shell peas (convar.
medullare
)