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 8°C and 24°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 5 - 8 cm apart
  • Harvest in 9-11 weeks. Pick the pods every day to increase production.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Potatoes

Your comments and tips

30 Apr 11, rhonda (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Your site lists winter as a good time to plant peas in my area, but we never plant them until late winter/early spring because harsh frosts will cause flower drop - can you comment?
16 Aug 11, Nat (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
We plant them in winter to late winter but have basic green shade cloth over one vegie patch and they do fine. grow thme on the edge though so they benefit from sunshine and can grow up the fence. Alternately, wait til spring and grow them up corn stalks.
02 May 11, LIz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Thank you for that Rhonda. I discussed it with Chris, who also lives in cool/mountain zone and I have now revised the data .
03 Dec 10, Gab the Gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, is there any benefit in pruning a pea plant? If so, what is the best method? I love to prune but I think I may be over doing it. Thanks in advance, Gab
27 Nov 10, Damian (Australia - temperate climate)
Peas, I found milk made them worse with powdery mildew, I'll try the ecorose spray. I'm actually growing some peas now (late Nov!) as a trial of SE Asian sugar snaps as the kids LOVE them. For cabbages, get some Dipel, it's not a chemical, it's a bacteria which only attacks caterpillars. Zero withholding period, perfectly safe, derris dust has been under a cloud lately re safety, so I no longer use that. Plus it's nice to see the little green beggars shrivelled up dead a few days after you spray!
26 Oct 10, Nicole (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I recently grew a few pea plants however they produced a couple pods each and then all died. There was no sudden change in weather, soil, watering, insects and I can't think of anything that could have led to all of them dieing so rapidly. Does anyone know why? Thanks
16 Aug 12, adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Nicole. Yep, it sounds like a bit too much love. They don't need a lot of water. If they get wet feet they just conk out pretty quickly. Just a thought.
14 Aug 12, john (Australia - temperate climate)
you could be over watering your pea plants.do they have spots on them.?they might have to be planted in a more warmer part of the garden.they love the winter sun.
12 Aug 10, mohan (Australia - temperate climate)
Your tips for growing are indeed good. I wish a few more critical aspects such as: 1. Soil pH required i.e. whether the veggies thrive in acid soil or alkaline medium. 2. Important elements required :from the N-P-K, Mg, Fe, Mo etc.
01 Aug 10, Glen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
for the first time ever i'm having problems growing peas. i'm new to the mountains region, and before have alwasy just put the seeds in,they've grown, then i eat them! This year the tall peas grew, but were demolished by downy mildew that also had rusty coloured dots (there seems to be a lot of diseases here), and the sugar snaps are v. slow and not looking healthy. Does anyone have any suggestions? I had to buy soil, and it's well enriched with mushroom compost, manure and blood and bone. many thanks.
Showing 151 - 160 of 196 comments

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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