Peas
- Why you should grow it
- Peas are a great starter crop, easy to grow
- It does well in most kinds of soil and in partial shade
Peas add nitrogen back into the soil through a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria
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- At the end of the life of the pea plant, cut the plant at ground level, leave the roots in the soil to break down and release the nitrogen
- The first crop you can start inside in March, direct sow April to late June for harvests in the fall
- How to start seeds
- Start indoors in March and plant out when the risk of frost has passed
- Continue to plant throughout the season to have new peas starting
- Needs cooler soil to germinate
- If planting out in the summer, shade the soil
- Plant under taller plants like tomatoes, nasturtiums
- Keep the soil consistently moist
- Tips for growth
- Plant a trellis behind your peas to allow them to grow taller
- Peas can grow over 7ft tall depending on the variety
- This will allow for good airflow and for more peas to grow, as well as easier harvesting
- Water consistently, they like cooler soils and water helps cool the soil
- Harvesting
- When the pea pods look full, snap off the pea from the stem with your fingers or scissors
- Continue to harvest throughout the summer regularly to promote good growth
- Depending on the variety, you can eat the whole pod, others you may need to shell
- Eat them quickly after picking to maximize the flavour
- Saving Seeds
- Saving seeds couldn’t be easier
- Leave some pods on the vine to dry out – well beyond being edible
- Snap off the pods and shell the peas, leave them to dry out more in a sunny, dry location
- When the peas shatter when hit, they are dry enough
- Label with the variety and year, store in a dry and cool place