How to plant peas

Peas , with the scientific name Pisum sativum , are an excellent legume, with great nutritional properties and a great source of protein, which is why they are a food especially appreciated by vegetarians and vegans to replace animal protein and also by those who, for various reasons, they want to eat less of this protein. As with all legumes , nothing better than growing your own plants to enjoy an organic and much healthier and tastier cultivation. We should also not forget about the well-known flower of the pea plant, which is decorative, fragrant and highly prized in gardening, although these varieties of flower peas are not edible.

If you want to learn how to plant peas , join us in this article where you will see a complete and easy guide to be successful in your plantation.

When to plant peas

We start by clarifying when to plant peas. The best time to plant pea seeds is, with most varieties and climates, in the fall , after the warmer temperatures of summer and with the winter frosts still far off.

However, some varieties of peas allow a much earlier sowing and in very cold climates it is advisable to advance the sowing so that the frosts do not arrive with the seedlings that are too vulnerable. In these cases, it is possible to plant peas in summer , especially at the end of it. In addition, peas of rough-grained varieties also accept spring plantings quite well.

How to plant potted peas

We come to the basic guide with which you will learn how to plant peas at home. These legumes accept cultivation both in garden or soil and in pot or urban garden . To plant peas in an urban garden (grow table) or in a pot , follow these steps:

1. Soak the pea seeds for 24 hours. Ideally, in a pot, it should be peas with a low bush, with a slower growth.
2. Prepare the substrate for the container, which we will make with the universal mixture of coconut fiber , worm castings and peat in equal parts, with an addition of vermiculite and perlite .
3. Find a pot or grow table that is deep enough. It does not need more than about 15 cm deep, since this plant is not demanding in this regard. Make a hole or groove of about 2 or 3 cm, with your fingers and add about 3 seeds per group, these about 20 cm apart.
4. After sowing it is important to provide a good abundant watering, with water spray or in fine jets so that the seeds do not drag. Depending on the variety and temperatures, you will be able to see your peas germinate in about 10 to 20 days later.

This method is also valid for germinating seedlings and then planting germinated peas to their final location.

How to plant peas in soil

When it comes to how to plant peas in the garden , it is convenient to follow this other guide, since many aspects are the same as when doing it in a pot but others change or are added.

1. It is advisable to soak the seeds for a day or a night, just as when we prepare them for a pot or seedbed.
2. In the case of ground peas, although it is a legume with a great nitrogen fixation capacity in the soil, it is advisable to add some fertilizer to it to optimize its development possibilities. Adding vermicompost or compost to the soil and stirring it well will always be worth it, although it is also possible to add it later by covering the seeds.
3. Then prepare one or more rows, where you want to plant the peas. It needs less than 5 cm deep and if there are several grooves, it is advisable to separate them about 40-50 cm from each other.
4. Add 3 or 4 seeds in a small pile at the same point in the row and leave about 15-20 cm of separation between the groups. Depending on whether they are peas with a low bush or a larger size, it will be convenient to expand or reduce the space between them.
5. Then cover the seeds with the soil enriched with fertilizer and, finally, water abundantly. It is important that the soil is loose and has good water drainage capacity, since peas require abundant watering and should not end up in water.
6. When they grow up, it will be time to stalk the peas . This can be done in many ways, although, if you have planted in a garden in long rows, the most comfortable and effective thing will be to put sticks nailed together to the rows of peas and extend a mesh of the many types that there are along these sticks, fixing them then with ropes, zip ties or any other method.
7. Once the mesh is in place, we can help the small plants by manually entangling them with it, very carefully. This can be done after winter if we plant them in the fall. In fact, in cold or windy climates you can help protect your seedlings by placing a bottomless plastic bottle around each one during the cold months.

How long does a pea plant take to grow?

We finish this guide to planting peas by clarifying when the peas are harvested so that you can enjoy your cultivation. If we have planted before winter, which is usually the best option, we can harvest the peas around May in a staggered manner, when the pods are already bulging and almost cylindrical in shape.

As a final tip, we recommend that in the garden you plant other vegetables that grow well with this plant near the peas. Peas grow well near beans, corn, carrots, potatoes, cucumbers, turnips, radishes, and turnips as they benefit each other, and should be avoided near garlic and onions.