Growing Peas

Pisum sativum : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
            P P P P    

(Best months for growing Peas in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 75°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 2 - 3 inches apart
  • Harvest in 9-11 weeks. Pick the pods every day to increase production.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Potatoes

Your comments and tips

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30 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - temperate climate)
If they eat the eye/heart out of the new seedlings then the plant won't grow much. Try and protect them with shade cloth or mossy netting etc until thy grow bigger.
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18 Aug 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Mike L. How do I know when peas are ready to pick (and similarly climbing/beans)? Thanx. J.
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18 Aug 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Mike L thanx for that. I don't know what mossy netting is but will 'google' it and get some. Appreciated. J
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03 Jul 18, Rosemary Jorgensen (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can you protect peas from wilt. I have now grown peas in all parts of the garden, so can't plant in a new area. I never used to have this problem. I particularly want to grow snow peas or sugar snap peas. The soil is sandy. I live in Golden Bay near the sea.
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29 Jun 19, Richard (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi, if it is wilt as in phytothphora then not much you can do as a quick fix. I am responsible for the bedding in town and we imported it via infected plants, in the autumn we removed 300mm of soil from all beds and brought in clean soil, still don't know if it's worked. The spores remain active for a couple of years so if you leave an area unplanted and sow mustard which acts as a fumigant that would help. Some plants are less susceptible but be aware anything touching infected ground, tools etc can spread it. It's the same disease that has infected kouri trees. Cheers Richard
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17 Jun 18, Lauren (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We live in Coffs Harbour NSW, I planted sugar snaps in April in a veggie planter box in new organic soil from the nursery. They got started quickly and looked promising only to now dwindle without progress. They are planted next to rocket which is going very well. What am I doing wrong?
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01 Jul 18, bianca (Australia - temperate climate)
your not doing anything wrong..they will pollinate and grow peas in September. they need bees and warmth. just be patient
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13 Jun 18, Vishal (Australia - tropical climate)
i live in Darwin, i'm looking for a produce making plant that i can plant in full sun straight into the ground. Darwin sun is harsh and easil >8hrs per day of sunshine in dry season. i'm finding it impossible to get pigeon peas and the nurseries here are rubbish for edible stuffs. anything i can just get from woolies/coles and propagate/grow? sorry if the question is really particular, but i'd hate to just have a garden growing stuff to just stare at and i'm lucky enough to have a great garden. thanks heaps in advance
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30 Jun 18, Peter (Ex Darwin) (Australia - temperate climate)
Vishal Darwin "Summer" is the Dry season. Plant once the Knock-em-downs are finished the make the best use of moist soil before the furnace switches on! Only plant tropical plants (Paw-paw etc) at the start of the Wet
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14 Jun 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look on the internet for pigeon pea seeds or any other seeds you want. In Darwin you probably have a limited time to grow things - too hot, wet and windy. Set this web page to Tropical climate zone and go through the different vegies you might like to grow. See when is the best time to plant them - probably in the autumn. Do a lot of research and reading.
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Showing 81 - 90 of 196 comments
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Hi. I'm growing peas at the moment. I have never grown them (or much else) before and they are such a beautiful plant. I have about 18 peas at the moment, and don't know when to pick them. Some of them look tempting. So, yes. do have a go at growing them yourself. You would never regret it. I started mine (in or out of season, I don't know) by sowing them in a good quality seed mix in punnets and then planted them out. They are Climbing Alderman peas. Soft, velvety leaves, and the prettiest flowers and lovely fat pods. (But don't touch!!) I put stakes and twine around for them to climb but they are also climbing my vegetable garden fence. I alternated them with climbing blue lake beans (not to be confused with climbing blue ridge tomatoes as I initially did). :)

- Jane

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