Growing Peas - Benefits and Instructions

 

Benefits of Peas

  • Nutritional Profile -high in protein, Vitamin A, C, K,B12, fiber, folate and iron.
  • Medicinal-  The vitamins and antioxidants in peas can help maintain healthy hair and skin, fight inflammation, combat ageing, help reduce the risk of cancer as well as prevent diabetes.
  • Use in:  eating raw, salads, soups, steamed, stir fry, pickled, canned.

 

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Growing Instructions

Culture:

Sun Exposure: Choose a full sun location. Peas will grow in part sun but with less production,
Soil: Soil pH of 6.5-7.5, and well-drained soil. . Beans are light feeders; compost or well-rotted manures worked into the soil at the time of planting is sufficient.
Moisture: Keep well-watered, especially during pea setting.
Planting:  Plant every two weeks, starting as early as soil can be worked until late summer.
Spacing:  Plant 4-9 peas per square foot of growing space using Square Foot Gardening Method.  Or plant in rows 2-3 inches apart.
Sow seeds: Sow seeds 1 inch deep 
Other Tips: Use inoculant at the time of planting to help boost soil fertility.*
(*Inoculant refers to a type of bacteria (Rhizobia bacteria) that grows on the roots of legumes (beans, peas, clover, alfalfa) to help produce nitrogen. Simply mix the inoculant in a bag with the seed until the seed is coated. Sow seeds and harvest an improved yield.)

 

Harvesting:

Most peas have an intended maturity for picking. The best time to harvest occurs as soon as the peas have achieved their full size, slightly larger than the dry seed you planted. They will also be sweet, tender and thin skinned. Shelling peas should be cooled immediately after picking. The best way to remove heat from a large harvest of peas on a warm day is to dunk them in very cold water until chilled, then dry and refrigerate. Once cooled, they will hold their quality for more than a week in the refrigerator.

Dried peas:

Allow the pods to ripen on the plants until they are dry and starting to turn brown, with the seeds rattling inside. This may be as long as a month after you would normally harvest the peas for fresh eating. Pull the plants from the garden once they start to dry and bring them indoors. Hang the plants upside-down in a well-ventilated place to dry completely. Once the pods and peas are completely dry, strip the pods from the plants and shell out by hand.

Storage/Preparation:

Eat peas as soon after picking as possible; the sugar that makes peas sweet begins turning to starch right after picking. Peas will keep in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days if stored in a perforated plastic bag. Peas freeze extremely well, but can also be canned or pickled.

 

Companions:

Beans, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, eggplant, parsley, peppers. potatoes, radish, spinach, strawberries and turnips. Avoid planting peas near onions, basil and fennel.

 

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