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
  • Peas in pod
  • Shelling peas
  • Young pea plant

Peas are best grown in cooler seasons. Peas need some support when growing, tree prunings with lots of small twigs are a cheap and handy source. Or else strings between posts or wire netting. Peas need tying in the early stages, until they start producing tendrils and clinging to the support.

Some pea varieties are called 'dwarf' but to make harvesting easier it is a good idea to support the plants.

Pick pea pods while young and pick them often to keep them producing.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Peas

Raw straight from the pod in the garden is best!
Raw in salads.
Steamed lightly.
Small pods can be steamed whole.

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for New Zealand | for all countries
24 Apr 19, Jim Cooper (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have planted scarlet runner beans with great success but the following years I have experienced problems growing them. I understand that they need a nitrogen fixing plant to improve the soil and that spring peas are a good way to do this. Can you recommend a good variety? I believe you need to dig them into the soil just after flowering. Is this correct?
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06 May 19, Green thumb (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Beans and peas are nitrogen fixing.
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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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28 Nov 17, Cath (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can you grow peas from fresh bought pods?
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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.
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31 May 12, Leanne (Australia - temperate climate)
Im in Adelaide, and have planted some garden pea sprouts into a newly constructed raised garden bed. The soil is top quality, they are in an optimum position for sun all day, and the weather has been very forgiving with good sun and light rains, yet my pea sprouts are dying. I am not overwatering and the soil was brand new when i planted them, i also gave a light sprinkling of seasol about 3 weeks after planting to try to revive them, but they are just turning yellow and dying. What can i do? Im quite new to gardening.
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02 Jul 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Wayne, the critical factor about frost is whether the ground is frozen. If not, you can plant and use frost cloth or even newspaper to keep your plants warm at night. Sunshine will damage the plant cells if they heat too quickly from frosting.
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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

- Richard

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