How and when are peas planted?

Peas are one of the most consumed vegetables, and one of the easiest to grow. The seeds only need moisture to germinate, something they will do in a matter of a few days. In addition, they have a very fast growth rate, so much so that their fruits will be ready to be collected two or three months after planting.

So if you feel like growing a beginner-friendly plant, start with them. Read on to find out how and when peas are planted .

When are peas planted

Peas are leguminous plants

The best time to plant peas is in the fall, although being such a fast growing herb it can be planted without problems also in spring. For this, what we have to do is prepare the ground of the garden, removing the stones and wild herbs that may be growing.

Next, we will proceed to sow the seeds in rows leaving about 50cm apart and covering them with a layer of soil of about 3-4cm. In the event that we have planted tree varieties, we have to put a support so that they can climb , such as reeds, tutors or iron rods.

Once they are planted, we will water them well by starting the drip irrigation system . Keeping the soil always humid (but not puddled), we will get the seeds to germinate in a maximum period of one week, which will be the moment when we can start fertilizing them by throwing around them a layer of 2-3cm thick of organic fertilizers, such as earthworm humus or horse manure for example.

Thus, they will be able to grow healthy and strong until their harvest , which will be about 12-14 weeks after sowing. As we see, there is very little time that we will have to wait to be able to taste them.

It is clear that if we are going to make planting peas before the fall season, must take into account the type of pests that can damage it, being caterpillars, one of the most dangerous.

It is also important to take into account the area where it is going to be planted, since in the interior areas, when the peas are planted later, much better.

And if you are wondering the reason for this, it is more than anything for frost , since it can be very intense, thus spoiling our cultivation, something that nobody likes.

It is recommended that the last frost of spring be taken into account , so that the best planting date can be calculated, since peas are not frost resistant once they are in bloom or with whole pods. In the middle of February, a seed in cold areas may be successful.

Types of planting peas

Dry pea planting

The dry peas are the type of sowing that is very profitable , thanks to the fact that it does not require much fertilizer or nitrogen inputs, although if you have to take great care of pests, therefore the use of fungicides will be required .

Very little information is known today about rainfed peas, although what is known is that having a greater number of hectares of these peas may not be the best, since there is a risk that Raise weeds if the soil is not soaked well.

There are several options for planting peas in dry land, although most are between December and February . The cycle of the pea as such is short, so if a seed is made early, it could be affected by a late frost, thus causing loss of production. The peas obtained from dry land tend to yield much more because they have not been subjected to large amounts of water in irrigation.

Soaking peas

The pea plant grows fast

If you want to plant peas, it is recommended that you leave the seeds to soak for a whole night and before you go to plant them, since with this procedure you can ensure that they will have a good germination.

Then, make some grooves in the ground, where they have holes in each of them and whose depth is not greater than 3 cm . These holes must be made every 20 cm in length.

In each of the holes made, you have to sow at least three or four seeds and cover it with a little mulch , pressing the soil so that it is compact with these and proceed to water it so that they cannot be exposed.

For the risk, it will only be necessary to take some water with your hand and spray it over the place where you planted the seeds, which may well be a seedbed. Depending on the variety of the seeds used in sowing and the freshness of these, you will see the first sprouts between 2 and 10 days.

When the seeds have already given seedlings with a height of at least 8 cm , you will have to transplant them, trying not to mistreat the roots. If these become a bit tangled, cut them carefully and place each seedling 15 cm apart.

For plantations that have been planted on land with high nutrient content, it will not be necessary to use fertilizers when the peas have already been planted.

How to store peas?

When peas are in the full growth phase, you need to help them to be favored by exposure to the sun , in addition to having the ventilation they need. This process is called entutorar.

With a good tracing of the peas , you will get them to develop properly , so you have to keep in mind that you must drive a stake when the first sprouts show up so that they can grow.

As time passes and the plant rises, it will have more dry ramifications , so you will have to put some reeds or wires in it, so that it continues to grow vertically.

If you do not have a cane available, you can also build a mesh with wire mesh so that the plant can tangle and continue growing. Just keep in mind that some varieties can reach 60 cm in height , but these do not require any structure to lean on.

What is the vegetative cycle of the pea?

Peas are easily grown

Unlike other crops, the plantation of peas has a fairly fast vegetative cycle , since it only takes between 3 and 3 and a half months to bloom or fruit.

For this reason, peas are cultivated for tender , green consumption although it can also be harvested to obtain all the nutrients from these, harvesting and keeping it dry.

Depending on the harvest time they have, they may be more or less tender and you can collect it directly from the bush in early March. Subsequently, you will find pods with fuller and rounded peas, having to give several revisions to the plantation, until they finish bearing fruit.

Depending on the variety of peas in the plantation, they will have to be taken before they thicken , except for those varieties that are going to be used for purees.

How and when are peas planted?

Leave a Reply

Scroll to top

Discover more from DIY Gardens

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading