Peas

Peas are cool-season, frost-hardy plants well-suited to winter and spring vegetable gardens in Sonoma County. Traditional shelling or garden peas develop tough pods with well-developed peas; snap peas are similar with edible pods; sugar or snow peas remain flat with very small peas inside tender edible pods.

Planting and Growing

Prepare soil in late summer with compost added to improve drainage and increase organic matter. Add a balanced fertilizer following package directions.
Sow seeds directly in beds 1-2 in. deep, 2 in. apart August-October for harvest in 2-3 months. Sow again January-April for a spring crop.
Where birds or snails threaten young shoots or if beds are soggy from winter rains, start peas indoors; handle transplants carefully to avoid damaging fragile roots. Seeds rot in cold, wet soil.
Provide sturdy support for vining or pole types. A row of fencing or mesh netting between posts allows stems to expand both sidewise and vertically. Winding tendrils often require the gardener’s assistance in getting started climbing.
Plant bush types in rows 2 in. apart with low supports to prevent stems from becoming tangled and complicating harvest. Intersperse plants with multi-branched, leafless twigs 1-2 ft. in length or other cage-like support.
Peas will produce as long as plants are healthy and the weather stays cool.

Harvest

Pick shelling peas when pods swell, feel firm, and you can feel the peas inside. When harvest is delayed, peas enlarge and become tough and starchy.
Pick snap peas when pods are filled but still small. Overly mature pods become stringy and tough and peas become starchy, losing their sweetness.
Pick snow peas when you can barely discern the peas inside.
Harvest all peas every couple of days to encourage continuous production.

Additional Information

February 2022