"Garden Peas"

Garden peas have been cultivated for many many years and are one of the most practical vegetables you can grow in a home vegetable garden. They don't take up too much space, they are relatively simple to grow and look after, they store well, and are tasty and nutritious! Wow - who could want more!

There are lots of seemingly quite different vegetables that come under the heading of 'peas'. The large marrowfat type are often used in soups and stews and are perfect for making 'mushy peas. Then there are sll sorts of other colours and sizes. Also you can grow a sugar snap or mange tout pea which is harvested before the peas inside the pod have developed. The whole pod is delicious and sweet and can be steamed, stir-fried or eaten raw. They add a wonderful crunch to a mixed salad.

Choose to grow a few different varieties if you have the space available.

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Thompson and Morgan, online seed and other gardening goods supplier, have a number of different varieties available. Click on the following links to take you to the first page of peas for UK and US deliveries- remember to click onto the next page to see the other varieties before you make your choice.


Garden Peas at Thompson and Morgan UK
Garden Peas at Thompson and Morgan US

And for other countries go to their homepage and follow the links for your region. Thompson and Morgan Homepage

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Most garden peas can be planted quite early in the year - late winter to early spring, although you should check on the seed packet for recommendations for your area and the variety you are growing.

Prepare your land by digging over and removing any weeds, large stones or non-organic material. Choose a bright and airy spot in the garden. Garden peas are a cool crop so don't require full sun but a bright spot will help them grow well. Make sure the ground is well drained. The peas will rot in waterlogged ground even before they have germinated.

Many peas will need support and you should place pea sticks along the row at the same time as planting. For the taller varieties, fix a line of pig wire or chicken wire to a few wooden stakes placed firmly in the ground. Pea plants send out tendrils which wrap around the support system and a firm wall of pig or chicken wire will work really well. And later, when the peas have all been harvested, you may have time to plant a few climbing gourds along the same line and using the same supports.

Plant garden peas fairly close together allowing only about 2inches (5cm) between the seed, unless otherwise stated for your particular variety. Allow enough space between rows so that you can get to the plants and maintain them, and also to pick the peas when the time comes. Water and keep weed-free. Peas tend to germinate fairly quickly and you should see a neat row of plants within a couple of weeks.

The plants will grow all by themselves and need little attention. Keep a careful eye on your plants as soon as they start to flower. The centre of the flower will quickly produce a pod and this pod will be ready to eat very soon. Regular garden peas will be ready in about 1-3 weeks, maybe a bit longer for the peas inside the pod to fully develop. But if you are growing the mange tout or sugar snap types, you can harvest them as soon as the pod is about an inch or two long. Don't let them get to the point where you can see they are developing peas inside the pod because the pod will be course by that time and not particularly enjoyable to eat, although if you do miss them, you could always chop them and add to a soup or stew.

Garden peas 'catch' nitrogen from the air and set it into the soil via the root system, so when your plants have died back, cut them at ground level and dig the roots into the ground. This will nourish the soil with nitrogen to help feed your next crop.

And remember if you don't manage to eat all your garden peas fresh, they can be frozen and also dried. To dry, leave the pods on the plant until they start to shrivel and then dry the peas completely before storing in airtight jars.

You can find more about growing your own peas and other garden vegetables and fruit, and even a few recipe ideas in my book recently published with Findhorn Press. Grow Your Own Pharmacy You really can grow enough fruit and veg to keep your family glowing with good health!

Happy Gardening!

More "Garden Peas" reading

http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/gardenpeas.html