Growing Peas: A Step-by-Step Guide for Home Gardeners

Hello everyone, welcome back! Today we will be discussing how to grow lots of peas in your garden. Peas are easy to grow and provide a delicious addition to any meal. So, let's get started!

Starting the Seeds

To start growing peas, you will need some pea seeds. I recommend using a spinach container to create a mini humidity dome to start your seeds. Plant the seeds about half an inch deep and three inches apart, cover them after planting, and water the seeds. The spinach container locks in humidity and creates the perfect environment for seeds to grow.

Transplanting

Peas germinate very fast and in just three days, small seedlings become visible. After two weeks of growing, the seedlings grow to six inches tall and are ready to be transplanted outside. Simply scoop up the seedlings and plant them in your garden next to a trellis. The plant spacing should be 12 inches or one foot apart, and row spacing should be 24 inches or 2 feet apart.

Growing Conditions

Peas are a cool weather crop, so plant them in spring six weeks before the last frost. Young pea plants can tolerate frost very well. Water regularly and keep the soil moist; do not let the soil dry out. After four weeks, peas are well-established and start to climb on the trellis.

Harvesting

After three months of growing, peas are ready to harvest. You can clearly see little peas developing inside the pods. Just snip peas from the plant, and they come right off. I have been picking peas frequently and getting a handful of peas every other day. You can also let some of your peas go to seed, so you can save the seeds to plant next year.

Final Thoughts

Peas belong to the legume family of plants and are nitrogen fixers. It is a good practice to plant a legume such as peas and beans before planting tomatoes and corn. Peas help to add nitrogen in the soil and do not need many fertilizers. Just some compost does the job. Peas are climbing plants, so make sure you have a large trellis. You can also grow pea microgreens for an additional tasty addition to your meals.

I hope you found this guide informative and are inspired to grow peas in your garden. It is an enjoyable and rewarding experience to grow your own food.

Happy gardening!