The trick with learning how to grow peas is to make sure the air is cool and the soil is warm (at least 60˚F). (Image credit: David Cole / Alamy) How to grow peas from seed Later sowings can run the risk of pea moth or powdery mildew, but there are powdery mildew-resistant varieties like ‘Ambassador’, ‘Lusaka’ and ‘Shiraz’.ĭepending on the types of greenhouse and garden you own, try indoor and outdoor sowings to maximize your harvest potential. The earlier the better to give root systems the best chance. If you expect a lot of rain, grow in raised beds to work with the weather. To pre-warm soil, put cloches in place two weeks before sowing or lay black plastic on the ground.ĭirect sowing is encouraged from early spring, while temperatures are cool out. You can also sow under cloches or polytunnels if the soil is not cold. As long as you use a greenhouse that is not too hot, early sowings favor stronger root systems. If you want to plant in a greenhouse, you can start many varieties under glass in late winter. Depending on variety, you can even start later for harvests the following year. You can start as early as mid winter or as late as early summer. Check your seed packets and decide if you are growing earlies (12 week turnaround) or main crops (16 week turnaround). That said, variety and cropping intention has some bearing when deciding how to grow peas. Peas are cool season crops, so they prefer to grow in spring and early summer. (Image credit: / Alamy) When to plant peas Avoid growing onions, garlic and chives nearby, which stunt growth. Peas do well with sweet corn, beans, carrots, nasturtiums, turnips, basil and radishes. If space is limited, pick a dwarf variety (like ‘Bingo’) and make the most of a grow bag and a sunny balcony rail. ‘To get this, provide an open, moist and warm (not hot) soil.’ĭepending on the variety, solid fence types, trellises and frames will support your peas. ‘The larger the root system, the bigger and healthier the crop,' she says. As Amateur Gardening’s Lucy Chamberlain points out, when growing peas, success relies on healthy roots. Check your soil types and adjust where necessary, adding lime to very acidic soils before sowing. Peas appreciate well-draining soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline soil (pH 6-8). The optimum temperature range for peas is 60-75˚F (15-24˚C), but they can crop between 45-80˚F (7-27˚C). It’s part of the reason why they thrive in UK and maritime climates and US hardiness zones 3-7 (although with care they can do well in zones 8-11). Confused? Peas are cool-season crops, a fact that favors early season growing. Regular sun does not mean peas crave heat.
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