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

01 Aug 09, Liz (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Kym. I'm in Adelaide and planted my Sugarsnaps straight into the ground just a couple of weeks ago. My ground is quite damp after all the rain, but I look to have had about 90% success rate with seeds from The Lost Seed. www.thelostseed.com.au I have had good results with most of their seeds and I am a newcomer to Adelaide.
31 Jul 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Kym. do you pre-soak your peas? Get an old jar put 50mm of tepid water in it, throw in the peas leave overnight, drain the next morning and repeat morning and night til the radical root appears (about 3-5 days). Then pot them 2 or 3 to a 100mm pot, keep in a warm (not too hot or cold) spot and in 7 days you should get 80+% germination. I got 99 out of 100 Blue Bantams doing it this way (BTW these are now 1.7m tall not too bad considering these are "dwarfs")
18 Aug 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
David, re: soaking peas. Do you mean soak the pea seeds? Thnks in advance.
04 Jul 09, Kym (Australia - temperate climate)
I have trouble with rust (I think - black spots on the leaves) with sugersnap peas and snowpeas. Anyone know how best to treat this? Also, does anyone know of a sugarsnap that germinates well? I'm lucky if i get 30% germination on the Adelaide plains.
28 Jun 09, Lisa (Australia - temperate climate)
What are the best type of peas to grow just west of Melbourne?
13 Jun 09, Colin (Australia - temperate climate)
I've just had to re-sow my peas, the last lot rotted in the soil. It seems they were too wet for too long. I've placed clear plastic (disposable) drinking cups over the new seeds to keep them warm and dry. They should emrtge soon.
02 Jun 09, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The white is powdery mildew - they seem very susceptible even when spaced out. I've found Eco-Rose is a good organic spray that works much better than milk, and it doesn't affect the beneficial insects. If you local garden shop doesn't have it you can buy it online from Eco Organic Garden www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au
20 May 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Steve: turning white? leaves? this is a mold/fungus. Too much moisture, not enough sun, plants too close together are the usual cause. Sometimes spaying with milk slows down the spread. Cabbage leaves- check for caterpillars, cabbage white butterfly is really bad this year in Sydney. Pick the leaves clean then set up netting.
16 May 09, steve (Australia - temperate climate)
peas turning white what to do also leaves on cabbage getting eaten any ideas
13 May 09, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Tony, we left peas off the tropical calendar because the climate is usually too hot for them. Have you tried asparagus peas? They can cope with warmer weather. You use the pod whole like sugar peas.
Showing 171 - 180 of 196 comments

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